From the French Revolution to the Arab Spring: When the People Finally Said ‘Enough’
By: The Zeitgeist Editorial Team
History has a way of repeating itself, especially when it comes to the inequality and economic despair that trigger revolutions. Whether we’re looking at the starving peasants of pre-revolutionary France or the unemployed youth of Tunisia, the common thread is always the same: the system only works for the rich. And when it gets bad enough, the people rise up. But don't take our word for it—just look at the facts.
The French Revolution: The Original 'Eat the Rich' Moment
In 1789, France’s economy was a disaster. The Third Estate—the common people—were overtaxed and underfed, while the nobility and clergy skated by with their fat purses and tax exemptions. Bread, the staple food of the time, became so expensive that riots broke out across the country. It didn’t take long for the anger to bubble over, leading to the storming of the Bastille and the start of the French Revolution (Doyle, 2001).
Fact Check: By the late 1780s, 98% of the population (the Third Estate) shouldered almost all the taxes (Doyle, 2001). Meanwhile, the top 1% of French society held about 25% of the nation’s wealth. Sound familiar? Because it should—today, the top 1% in the U.S. holds more wealth than the bottom 90% combined (Economic Policy Institute, 2022).
Modern Comparison: Income inequality in the U.S. is not only back to French Revolution levels, but worse. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the wealth gap continues to grow, while average wages stagnate. Food prices, driven up by inflation, are hitting people hard, just as they did back then (Economic Policy Institute, 2022).
The Russian Revolution: When the Rich Get Richer, and the Poor Starve
Fast forward to 1917. Russia, ravaged by war and economic incompetence, was falling apart at the seams. The vast majority of Russians lived in abject poverty, while the aristocracy lived in opulence. Bread prices had skyrocketed by 700% (Figes, 1997). The working class was starving, and unemployment was rampant. It was only a matter of time before revolutionaries like Lenin and Trotsky stepped in to overthrow the regime.
Fact Check: By 1917, Russia’s wealth disparity was extreme: the top 10% controlled nearly all the wealth (Figes, 1997). Inflation hit the working class hard, with basic necessities like bread becoming unaffordable.
Modern Comparison: Global wealth inequality is at a tipping point. Oxfam’s 2023 report highlights that the richest 1% captured nearly two-thirds of all new wealth during the pandemic—more than $42 trillion (Oxfam, 2023). Like pre-revolution Russia, today's elites are so far removed from the realities of everyday life, it’s no wonder discontent is simmering.
The Arab Spring: Unemployment and the Youth Revolution
Jump ahead to Tunisia in 2010. Mohamed Bouazizi, a young street vendor, set himself on fire in protest after being humiliated by corrupt officials. His act of desperation lit the spark for what became the Arab Spring. It wasn’t just about dictatorship—it was about economic despair, high unemployment, and an entire generation with nothing to lose. Youth unemployment had hit 33% in Tunisia, and the government couldn’t—or wouldn’t—do anything about it (ILO, 2010).
Fact Check: Across the Middle East, youth unemployment was a ticking time bomb. In 2010, the Middle East and North Africa had the highest rates of youth unemployment in the world—over 25% (UNDP, 2010).
Modern Comparison: The youth unemployment crisis today is global. According to the International Labour Organization, 42% of young workers in low-income countries are unemployed or underemployed (ILO, 2022). It’s the same story we’ve seen before: when you leave an entire generation without hope, don’t be surprised when they rise up.
The Great Depression: When the System Crashes
In 1929, the global economy crashed. The Great Depression pushed unemployment rates to 25% in the U.S. and devastated lives worldwide. Wages dropped by 42%, and food riots erupted as people were literally starving (Kennedy, 1999). This economic catastrophe, brought on by speculative bubbles and unchecked greed, set the stage for a massive restructuring of the economy—but not before millions of lives were ruined.
Fact Check: Before the Great Depression, the top 1% of Americans held a 24% share of the nation's wealth (Piketty, 2014). Today, the top 1% holds 31%, exceeding pre-Depression levels (Piketty, 2014). According to Oxfam, during the pandemic, the top 10 men in the world saw their wealth double while millions fell into poverty (Oxfam, 2022).
Modern Comparison: Economic precarity today is reaching those same boiling points. With inflation, unaffordable housing, and stagnant wages, the current system is buckling under the same kinds of pressures that led to the Great Depression. And history shows that when the economy breaks, the working class suffers most.
Revolutions of 1848: Europe’s Awakening
Europe's 1848 revolutions were driven by calls for political reform and economic justice. From Paris to Berlin, the common people demanded an end to aristocratic privilege and suffrage for the working class. Rising food prices and unemployment due to the industrial revolution fueled protests. The unrest was sparked, in part, by famine and the doubling of bread prices—a familiar theme (Evans, 2000).
Fact Check: Unemployment in cities like Berlin and Vienna hit 20-30%, while bread prices in Paris doubled (Evans, 2000). The industrial revolution may have made some factory owners rich, but it left the workers behind.
Modern Comparison: Rising food costs and inflation are once again pushing people to the edge. The 2022 Global Report on Food Crises reported that 345 million people are facing acute food insecurity—a number that has doubled since 2019 (Global Network Against Food Crises, 2022). Today’s inequality mirrors the conditions that led to Europe’s revolutions in 1848.
Conclusion: The Next Revolution is Already Brewing
From the French Revolution to the Arab Spring, one thing has been consistent: economic inequality leads to revolution. And today, we’re living in a world where the rich are getting richer, the poor are being left behind, and young people have nothing to lose. The conditions are all there—so what’s going to spark the next uprising? One thing is certain: history shows us that when people are pushed too far, they always push back.
—The Zeitgeist.
Bibliography
Doyle, W. (2001). The French Revolution: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press.
Economic Policy Institute. (2022). Wealth Inequality in the U.S.
Evans, R. J. (2000). The Pursuit of Power: Europe 1815-1914. Penguin Books.
Figes, O. (1997). A People's Tragedy: The Russian Revolution 1891-1924. Penguin Books.
Global Network Against Food Crises. (2022). Global Report on Food Crises.
ILO (International Labour Organization). (2010). World Employment and Social Outlook.
ILO (International Labour Organization). (2022). Youth Employment Trends.
Kennedy, D. M. (1999). Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945. Oxford University Press.
Oxfam. (2022). Inequality Kills report.
Oxfam. (2023). Survival of the Richest report.
Piketty, T. (2014). Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Harvard University Press.
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). (2010). Human Development Report.