Elite Overproduction

You would be forgiven for believing that revolutions start ground up. The unhappy proletariat decides to turn against the bourgeoisie and the classic poor turn against the rich. 

The poor do not have the credibility that is needed to align the masses alongside themselves. This narrative of the poor rising against the rich is a fallacy. It is rather easy for the rich to put down the poor because they do not have sufficient credibility. 

A perfect example is how the attempts to unionise are being crushed in the US. They not only stop them but also call them lazy!

Revolutions are started by the elite. 

So the question why would those at the pinnacle of the system turn against it? They do this because they feel that they are not getting enough status. 

Almost all revolutions are a result of elite overproduction. 

The elites in every society play games to keep the others beneath them. Furthermore, they have the money, the education and the credibility needed to play these games effectively.

The American war of Independence was a result of too many rich English in America who did not think they were being treated at parity with the English in England.

When a society has too many elites who are no longer able to win at the status game you get a situation where the unsuccessful group of elites is willing to go to war with the successful group and they help sow the seeds of revolution amongst the lower classes. 

Now in this context, it is easy to understand China’s crackdown on its elite including the likes of Jack Ma. It is important to preserve the status quo.