06-15-2016, 11:54 AM
JohnX your theory in my opinion is incorrect because I can give several examples from history. Take the French revolution in 1789 which led to the collapse of the existing geopolitical framework resulting in an Austrian and Prussian invasion of France in 1792. To respond against this attack, the french instituted levee in masses. While the majority of the french people enrolled into the levies, a minority took up arms against the government, resulting in a bloody civil war throughout 1793 and 1794 which devastated several regions especially the vendee. At the same time, the government itself collapsed into several rounds of purges culminating in the reign of terror. By 1794 french armies has turned the tide at the front lines resulting in prussia suing for peace in 1795 and war ending with the capitulation of Austria in 1797. Yet according to your theory the french in 1797 should have been focused on consolidating the results of the war and should have been pursuing conservative policies abroad. Internally the reign of terror according to generational dynamics should have inoculated the french against demagogic politics. But that was NOT what happened, how can GD explain how Napoleon was able to convince the french to first make him leader then to mobilize and attempt the conquest of Europe. All of this was after the bloodbath of 1792 to 1797. The war that napoleon initiated did not truly end until 1815.
Another example can be from ancient times during the first phase of the peloponnesian war from 431 BC to 421 BC; there was first the ravaging of Attica by spartan armies, the great plague of Athens, the Athenians adopting an offensive war strategy, the institution of collective punishment and genocide against rebellious cities in the Athenian empire, the offensive strategy turning into a stalemate, finally the Spartans and Athenians signing the peace of Nicias. How than can GD explain how Alcibiades was able to convince the Athenians to invade Sicily and restart the war, which then lasted until 404 BC.
Another example can be from ancient times during the first phase of the peloponnesian war from 431 BC to 421 BC; there was first the ravaging of Attica by spartan armies, the great plague of Athens, the Athenians adopting an offensive war strategy, the institution of collective punishment and genocide against rebellious cities in the Athenian empire, the offensive strategy turning into a stalemate, finally the Spartans and Athenians signing the peace of Nicias. How than can GD explain how Alcibiades was able to convince the Athenians to invade Sicily and restart the war, which then lasted until 404 BC.
