French Revolution 2.0? A Really Bad Idea, By James Reed
Below is my argument of why the Left embracing a "French Revolution 2.0," as highlighted in the Breitbart article "Leftist Echo Chamber Reddit Allows Viral Posts Calling for Repeat of French Revolution"
is considered a bad idea. The argument focuses on the historical lessons of the French Revolution (1789–1799), its violent excesses, and the practical and philosophical implications of such a movement in a modern Western context.
The Breitbart article reports that Reddit, described as a "leftist echo chamber," has allowed viral posts calling for a repeat of the French Revolution's "Reign of Terror" to resist President Donald Trump's second term, with phrases like "They want 1939 Germany, let's give them 1789 France" gaining traction. This embrace of revolutionary rhetoric by the Left, as a response to political opposition, raises significant concerns rooted in historical precedent, social stability, and ideological incoherence.
First, the French Revolution's descent into chaos and violence serves as a stark warning. Initially sparked by legitimate grievances—economic inequality and aristocratic privilege—the revolution radicalised into the Reign of Terror (1793–1794), where tens of thousands were guillotined, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, as noted by History.com (cited in the article). The Jacobins' pursuit of "equality" devolved into mass executions, purges of dissenters, and civil war, claiming up to 40,000 lives by some estimates. A modern "French Revolution 2.0" risks repeating this spiral, turning ideological frustration into bloodshed. X posts warn of "Year Zero policies" and "cognitive dissonance," suggesting a Left-driven revolution could mirror this historical overreach, sacrificing reason for vengeance.
Second, the Left's invocation of 1789 clashes with its own stated values. The French Revolution aimed to dismantle monarchy and feudalism, but it ended with Napoleon Bonaparte's dictatorship in 1799—a point the Breitbart article underscores with irony, given Leftist accusations of Trump as a dictator. Today's Left champions supposed tolerance, diversity, and social justice, yet the guillotine's legacy is indiscriminate brutality, not nuance. Web discussions (e.g., Free Republic comments, February 19, 2025) highlight this contradiction, with users noting the "ruthless radicalism" of Jacobins resembles the modern Left's intolerance for dissent—evident in Reddit's censorship of conservatives like The Donald. A revolution modelled on 1789 would likely betray progressive ideals, replacing dialogue with dogma and diversity with conformity.
Third, the practical consequences in a modern context are dire. The French Revolution thrived in a pre-industrial, agrarian society with clear class divides; today's West is a complex, interconnected system reliant on stability. Viral Reddit posts (per Breitbart) calling for upheaval ignore this reality—disrupting institutions like government, corporations, or supply chains could trigger economic collapse, not utopia. X sentiment warns of "STDs and chaos," a hyperbolic but telling fear that radical upheaval would unravel social order, not refine it. The article notes Google searches for "1789 France" spiked, reflecting curiosity but also naivety about translating 18th-century tactics to a digital, globalised age.
Fourth, the Left risks alienating its base and the broader public. The French Revolution alienated moderates as it radicalised, a lesson echoed in today's polarised climate. Breitbart cites Reddit's history of silencing conservatives, yet its tolerance of violent rhetoric, could backfire, painting the Left as unhinged. X users (e.g., February 2025) call for arrests over such posts, signalling a backlash from those valuing law and order—conservatives and centrists alike. Trump's own post—"He who saves his country does not violate any law"—drew Leftist outrage, but the article suggests their revolutionary calls invite the same dictator label they decry, losing moral credibility.
Finally, historical outcomes argue against success. The French Revolution birthed temporary equality but ended in authoritarianism and decades of war. A "French Revolution 2.0" in 2025, fuelled by Reddit's echo chamber, lacks a clear endgame—dismantling Trump's administration offers no guarantee of progressive triumph, especially with technocratic and populist forces (e.g., Musk, Thiel) backing him. Web analyses (e.g., Breitbart's broader coverage) suggest the Left underestimates this resilience, risking a Pyrrhic victory or worse—strengthening the very systems they oppose.
The Left's embrace of a French Revolution 2.0, as spotlighted in the Breitbart article, is a bad idea due to its historical baggage, ideological hypocrisy, practical infeasibility, political blowback, and uncertain outcomes. The Reign of Terror's violence and chaos, misaligned with progressive ideals, threaten to destabilise rather than reform. In a modern West defined by complexity and division, this revolutionary fantasy—amplified on Reddit—invites disaster, not deliverance, echoing warnings from history and contemporary critics alike.
"Leftist echo chamber Reddit is embracing the French revolution in an attempt to resist President Donald Trump. The platform notorious for its censorship of conservatives is allowing posts calling for violent political revolution in the style of the French "Reign of Terror" to spread virally in the early weeks of the Trump administration.
"They want 1939 Germany, let's give them 1789 France" is popping up all over the platform, with "1789 France" spiking in Google searches and on X Radar, a feature on X that lets users monitor keywords and track conversations.
The reference to the French Revolution describes the time period between 1789 and the late 1790s, and when French citizens "radically altered their political landscape, uprooting centuries-old institutions such as the monarchy and the feudal system," History.com notes.
"The upheaval was caused by disgust with the French aristocracy and the economic policies of King Louis XVI, who met his death by guillotine, as did his wife Marie Antoinette," the site adds.
The historical website goes on to note that while this "degenerated into a bloodbath during the Reign of Terror, the French Revolution helped to shape modern democracies by showing the power inherent in the will of the people."
The French Revolution notably concluded with the ascent of Napoleon Bonaparte, who seized power in November 1799.
Interestingly, Bonaparte resurfaced in the news last weekend after President Trump issued a social media post that closely resembled a line from the 1970 film, Waterloo, about the former French Emperor.
"He who saves his country does not violate any law," Trump posted to his social media accounts on Saturday.
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