Paul Krugman, Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times, in his book The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way in the New Century calls attention to some valuable analyses of how stable institutions respond to powers that do not accept the system's legitimacy. The analysis comes from Henry Kissinger's doctoral dissertation, A World Restored, about the reconstruction of Europe after the battle of Waterloo. Here's a quote from Kissinger:
Lulled by a period of stability which had seemed permanent, they find it nearly impossible to take at face value the assertion of the revolutionary power that it means to smash the existing framework. The defenders of the status quo therefore tend to begin by treating the revolutionary power as if its protestations were merely tactical; as if it really accepted the existing legitimacy but overstated its case for bargaining purposes; as if it were motivated by specific grievances to be assuaged by limited concessions. Those who warn against the danger in time are considered alarmists; those who counsel adaptation to circumstances are considered balanced and sane. . . . But it is the essence of revolutionary power that it possesses the courage of its convictions, that it is willing, indeed eager, to push its principles to their ultimate conclusion.
Krugman likens the revolutionary power that Kissinger describes to the contemporary right-wing movement in America. To anyone who knows the history of fundamentalism in Baptist life, it is a nearly perfect description of the takeover of the SBC. I've ordered a copy of Kissinger's book. It should be interesting reading.
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