It is only logical that those in a position of power will be loath to relinquish their advantages. They will employ every means at their disposal to perpetuate the exploitative status quo – including disinformation, so that the exploited might not even believe they are being exploited. The intelligent exploiter will also perform token acts of philanthropy that will then be trumpeted extensively, to make the exploited believe they are actually living a good life under a benevolent guardian. But the primary weapon of repression is likely to be violence, and the threat of violence. A terrified subject is unlikely to criticise or protest even if they feel hard done by if a pervasive atmosphere of fear is cultivated over time.
A fundamental restructuring of power-relations will obviously not be easy. It will take patience and protracted resistance, in that such entrenched power-hierarchies are unlikely to be replaced overnight. How will one convince the exploited that they are indeed living an unjust life? Even if they are exposed to a different society where there is greater opportunity for dissent, it is quite likely they will dismiss this other society as decadent. Further, what is to say that the new order will not itself degenerate over time? Even if it somehow succeeds in convincing the exploited to back it, and does displace the present ruler as the centre of their existence? Will they then be able to come to terms with it if the individual concerned decides to abandon them?
For some of these questions, the answer will be so clear and unambiguous that once you are face-to-face with the site of exploitation, you will not be able to live with yourself unless you do something, anything, possible about it. It is important to remember that in situations like this, a straight-cut, emotionally reached reaction will almost inevitably be a mistake. These lessons are widely known, in that the doctrine – "From a spark, a fire will rise up" – does not mean leaving university, going to a village, and then just summarily annihilate the exploiter. This has been tried and tested and the results are now history.
The thing is, I have long been very troubled by the disconnect between these political beliefs I very firmly believe in and what I am in actuality doing with my life. Is it justified to escape to a comfortable life in the first-world and spend all of one's time reading obscure aspects of mystical theology and idealist philosophers like Plato?