I've been thinking a lot recently about the parallels between open source and fair trade. (It's a topic of ongoing interest [1] for me.) Specifically, I've been thinking about how they are both revolutionary, in a literal, but not traditional, sense.

They are literally revolutionary because they reorder the structures and relationships of power in society. However, they are not traditionally revolutionary for two reasons.

First, they are non-violent. There have been non-violent revolutionaries in the past (Gandhi, Dr. King), but most people associate revolutionaries with violence (Lenin, Che Guevara, Bobby Seale).

Second, and perhaps more importantly, both open source and fair trade give heavy emphasis to freedom, but at the level of the individual or small handfuls of individuals. They have broad social implications, but do not bring about dramatic social upheavals. They take the idea of freedom quite literally, to the extent that they refuse to impose their ideas on people against their will. You aren't really free unless you're acting on your freedom voluntarily.

That means there will be milestones for both revolutions, but no glorious street battles or storming of castles. And that's OK.