There is a reoccurring theme in the Code Geass series. It’s Lelouch and the game of chess. We see Lelouch playing chess in the first episode of the first season as an early display of his intelligence. Lelouch playing chess comes up sporadically throughout the season, but a similar chess scene to that in season 1 episode 1 is shown at the start of the second season, reaffirming that the game is not to be over looked.

The most resounding play with this coupling is during battles. The Black Knights are incapable of fighting strategically without orders from their “king” piece Zero. The show goes out of its way to show Lelouch as the chess master moving both soldiers and the pieces of revolution. In this manner Lelouch is seen by his Black Knights and the Elevens (Japanese) as the leader that will free the them from oppression.

However, the viewer has a fuller picture of what’s happening in the background. We know that in reality the goals of the revolutionaries and Lelouch are very different. Lelouch is very much motivated by revenge and providing a future for Nunnally, while the Black Knights are interested in freedom from Britannia.

Here is where we come to one of the problems with revolution. Often the revolutionaries have their own motives for revolution; those motives being different and often divergent from those they claim to represent. The Founding Fathers of the United States draped their work in the ideals of The Enlightenment, with talk of freedom and equality, but still allowed slavery and voting rights for only a few select citizens. Leaders such as Mao, Mugabe, Obiang, and Hitler amongst many others have often come to power carrying the banner of revolution. As a particularly relevant side note, the French. Even if the revolutionary at first works for the people, human nature and power will inevitably corrupt them, but it is important to note that not all revolutions are violent or swift.

In general we can separate the differing factions of political or social controlling entities into two parties, the opposition and the conservative. The conservative party is defined as the group that has effective control of the society. The opposition party often places itself as truly representing the people best interests. History has shown us that eventually the opposition will become the conservative and the conservative will become the opposition.  When a party takes control, their goal will invariably shift from their original stated goals to simply staying in power, hence the need for revolution.

A conservative candidate who should present himself to his electors by declaring to them that he did not regard them as capable of playing an active part in influencing the destinies of the country, and should tell them that for this reason they ought to be deprived of the suffrage, would be a man of incomparable sincerity, but politically insane.

- Robert Michels in Political Parties

In 1911, Robert Michels a German sociologist wrote Political Parties. The work is most noted for introducing the “iron law of oligarchy.” The book focused on the power structures of political groups and how invariably they lead to a concentration of power into a select elite who hold the majority of influence.

…is a form of government where political power effectively rests with a small elite segment of society (whether distinguished by wealth, family, military powers or spiritual hegemony). The word oligarchy is translated into “rule by few.” Compare with autocracy (rule by one person) and democracy (rule by the majority).

- Oligarchy article on Wikipedia

Michels argued that this phenomenon could not be helped, owing to it being an inherent trait of organization and human nature. People naturally seek out a leader, and an organization is simply more efficient if decisions can be make by proxy.  It is the fault of human’s inherent instinctive urge to follow, to group, and to lead.

Lelouch’s rebellion, in a way, had already failed before it started. They are already ruled by Zero. No matter the outcome, the Japanese/Elevens will be ruled by some elite group of bureaucrats or aristocrats. To many people choosing their overlords by not revolting is possibly the only real freedom they have in choosing the course of their society. The point here is that the vast majority of the people are simply a tool utilized by the elite in their quest for power. The people’s concerns are only the concerns of those in power when necessary (e.g. Lelouch forming the Black Knights).

This is not a pessimistic assertion. If anything, it is an optimistic and pragmatic view. What this means is that in no society, at any time, through out the world will you find a perfect freedom. There are no free rides in this game. The oligarchy at the top of society would see itself as the chess master. The only way for the people to disturb their strategy is to change the game. Freedom is a work in progress, it always will be, and revolution a necessity.

Viva la Revolucion!

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• Michels, Robert. Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy. Trans by Eden Paul. Hearst’s International Library Co. 1915.