Revolution and Changing Governments.

History holds many examples of governments changing from Democratic to Autocratic governments and vice versa. Most are violent and happen through revolution, though not all are. Perhaps the slowest example is in England, where over a centuries long period the monarchs and Aristocrats gave up power beginning with the Magna Carta in 1215. Others have been more sudden but also free from violence, including many of the revolutions in Eastern Europe at the end of the cold war. But not all changes of government are toward the democratic side. The ancient Roman government, first a republic became a dictatorship in a rebellion. However, after the Romans overthrew the dictatorship of Julius Caesar the change to an empire, under Augustus Caesar was much more subltely done. History has many examples of governments changing in both directions, and at various speeds, from a lightning fast revolution to a centuries long process.

Today, governments can still change, something we see fairly often, though usually in smaller, developing nations.

One question now is, could China, the largest of the few remaining communist nations transition to a more open and democratic society. The answer is yes, several decades ago, China was much more of a closed society, and much more under state control. If these trends continue, which they seem likely to, China will become a democratic society. The leadership of the China, which normally would have the greatest reasons to oppose such a change, seem to see that progress in these areas are for their own and the national good. If however these leaders change their positions, the change will most likely take much longer and will possibly be bloodier.

A second questions, is can a modern developed democracy like the United States, go in the other direction, towards autocracy. The answer, unfortunately seems to be yes. It is easy when an emergency takes place to allow the government more power, only to deal with the crisis of course. Unfortunately, there are people who would use the government to gain personal power. And it is these emergency powers that are dangerous. One example in the recent history of the United States is the Patriot Act, it grants the government broad powers to spy on its own citizens. Americans must be vigilant, that their leaders are truely looking out for them, and the United States.