But at the beginning the revolution is not a revoltion. It is a mass struggle for some dramatic change in the present system. On rare occasins (which will continue to be rare) those struggles develop a 'logic' of their own, behind the backs of their participants, a logic drawing in others AND transforming all involved. (Ted doesn't agree with this interpretationo of Marx's "revolutionizing practice.") Very few (perhaps none) choose to be revolutionaries; rather, they suddenly discover that what they have been already involved in for months or a year or two makes no sense unless they posit revolution as its 'final goal.' No one certainly sits down, inspects alternatives, 'chooses' socialism (a pig in the poke), and rationally decides to overthrow the state and install socialism off the shelf. That's how you decide which brand of string beans to buy.
Carrol
^^^^^^^^ CB: This is not an accurate sketch of the Russian Revolution ,because the Bolsheviks raised the consciousness of the masses significantly. Marx and Engels are clear that the socialist revolution will be different than past revolution precisely on this point of the consciousness of the masses.
This doesn't sound like the process the Bolivarians are building in Venezuela , either.
Carrol's ongoing advice on revolutions, as if he has some unique insight on them seems to be based on "revolutions" that took place in his imagination. He certainly doesn't have a Marxist or Leninist ( the ones who have led many of the most recent actual revolutions) idea of them.
Carrol poses as some expert on revolutions. He is not one.