On Adaption, Revolution and the American System

Natasha Mundkur

Class of 2019

From the ancient societies and civilizations of Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley to the great modern societies in North America, like that of the United States, Central America, and Mexico, history shows a strong pattern of human adaptation, and essentially, revolution. The essence of human nature and our survival as a species that rests upon our ability, and inherently, our disposition, to change and evolve our behavior to meet the demands of an ever changing and progressing world. Evidence of our innate inclination to change and develop can be physically seen through our technological innovations and development since ancient societies and into the modern world. From scribing and the wheel to cars, computers, and cell phones, our innate tendency to revolutionize our societies is evident in our everyday life. 

Similarly, alongside people within a state, government and political institutions have had to evolve in order to respond to the will of the people. Revolutions have risen out of a dissatisfaction with institutions and quality of life. Theoretically, a sort of lateral pressure rising from the demands of individuals within a society stresses expansion beyond the boundaries of mediocrity. People’s dissatisfaction with government has been seen in countries and societies such as the United States and Mexico, and has led to innovative change. Within those boundaries of a society, legitimate political authority is established only when the people align with a state’s strong leadership and appropriately devised goals. The US, for example, rich in its history of political revolution, established its own legitimate political authority of government with appropriate branches and a system of checks and balances (for accountability sake) that arose out of dissatisfaction with previous authority. Similarly, in Mexico, revolution arose out of individuals’ dissatisfaction with government structure and institutions, but led to different outcomes in terms of legitimate political authority because of its strong influences and ties with its colonial past. The United States and Mexico are similar in their histories and experiences with revolution and government transilience, but have since developed very different representations on appropriate and legitimate government, if legitimate at all, through their revolutions. 

Furthermore, The American system not only bases itself on political structure and eminent worth, but prides itself and its historical value systems and moral conception. The United States is continually able to act as the most powerful economic country in our modern world and remain loyal in the eyes of its governing constituents and legitimate in the eyes of a world audience. It's in the system of checks and balances that the different branches of government are obliged to check and balance against each other in order to ensure that one branch of government does not become too powerful than the other and does not lead to government corruption and delegitimization. Within political parties of the United States, the separation of powers system accommodates a two party system within the government structure. Understanding the possibility of one political party more dominant than another, the checks and balances system ensures that legislation and political action is approved and in accord with law that has kept this nation together since its conception.

Natasha Mundkur is a sophomore McConnell Scholar from Louisville, Ky. She studies business, marketing, political science and Spanish.