Historical peaceful transfers of power? (hexbear.net)

submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by FidelChadstro@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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So the reality of a trump presidency is setting in and I'm starting to think of the historical transitions of "world powers". As a hegemon, the US emerged as a world power as a victor in WW1, WW2, and the cold war, all of which were violent conflicts. Now, the US falters as China emerges as their respective philosophies on government play out.

Is there any way the US passes the baton to China in a peaceful manner?

What does that mean for us in the near future?

How's your Saturday night?

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[-] FidelChadstro@hexbear.net 29 points 3 months ago

Maybe the best example would be the collapse of the USSR, where massive pieces of state-owned infrastructure were privatized and sold for scrap to unscrupulous opportunists who were able to capitalize at the moment of crisis, while the majority of the population suffered a loss of retirements and the extenuating circumstances of a collapsing state (death, poverty, food insecurity, addiction, homelessness, etc). Yes I'm replying to my own post monkey-typewriter

[-] Carl@hexbear.net 21 points 3 months ago

Overall, it's astonishing how little militarized violence occurred at the end of the Eastern Bloc. Nearly all of the violence (aside from shelling the government building to prevent the people from trying to go back to communism) was caused by austerity (not that this was a small amount of violence by any means, given that at least six million people died from it).

The Revolutions of 1848 would fit the bill if not for the violent counterrevolutions that occurred in 1849.

[-] vovchik_ilich@hexbear.net 13 points 3 months ago

Overall, it's astonishing how little militarized violence occurred at the end of the Eastern Bloc

So much for the power-hungry militaristic communists and the unwavering state structure huh?

[-] Carl@hexbear.net 20 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

The Gang of Eight called their coup against Gorbachev off after three civilians died. Three! Three million civilian deaths wouldn't even make the average American politician flinch.