That radicalization can only occur as a result of the existing social order and social control exercised by the elites. This can be demonstrated by contrasting Russia and Germany at the end of WW1 - breakdown occurred in Russia (as the army that was the main pillar of the state order disintegrated) but not in Germany (where social order was maintained by many means not just the army) despite a defeat - and it was Russia that experienced a successful radical revolution, while revolution attempt in Germany failed.
It is unlikely that a mere economic downturn will dissolve social order and social control by the elite - far more than that is needed.
Wojtek
On Mon, May 17, 2010 at 2:31 PM, Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> wrote:
> http://lbo-news.com/2010/05/17/recessions-better-for-right-than-left/
>
> For a long time, I’ve been critical of the left-wing penchant for economic
> crisis. Many radicals have fantasized that a serious recession—or
> depression—would lead to mass radicalization, as scales simultaneously fell
> from millions of pairs of eyes and the imperative of transcending capitalism
> became self-evidently obvious. I’ve long thought that was nonsense, and now
> there’s empirical support for my position....
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