# Smashing capitalism > This is the classic revolutionary road to socialism. It assumes a seizure of power by a cadre of radicals, typically achieved by violent means, but also potentially through elections. Its defining element is not so much reliance on revolution, but what happens after — that it suppresses the counterrevolution by force and then rapidly builds new socialist institutions. > > – A Blueprint for Socialism in the Twenty-First Century ## Pros > periodically there will be intense capitalist economic crises in which the system becomes vulnerable and ruptures become possible. > – [How to Be an Anticapitalist Today](https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/12/erik-olin-wright-real-utopias-anticapitalism-democracy/) , Erik Olin Wright > The idea that capitalism can be rendered a benign social order in which ordinary people can live flourishing, meaningful lives is ultimately an illusion because, at its core, capitalism is unreformable. > > – [How to Be an Anticapitalist Today](https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/12/erik-olin-wright-real-utopias-anticapitalism-democracy/) , Erik Olin Wright ## Cons > It is one thing to burn down old institutions; it is quite another to build emancipatory new institutions from the ashes. > > – [How to Be an Anticapitalist Today](https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/12/erik-olin-wright-real-utopias-anticapitalism-democracy/) , Erik Olin Wright > Give up the fantasy of smashing capitalism. Capitalism is not smashable, at least if you really want to construct an emancipatory future. > > – [How to Be an Anticapitalist Today](https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/12/erik-olin-wright-real-utopias-anticapitalism-democracy/) , Erik Olin Wright Why not? Idea seems to be that defending such a revolution would be necessarily violent. Capitalism won't take it lying down. See: [[To Posterity - Bertolt Brecht]]. A pro-smash article: [Goodbye Revolution? - Regeneration Magazine](https://regenerationmag.org/goodbye-revolution/)