But history often shows that transitions even into better states, can be destabilising.
Yes. It is a "better the devil you know" approach. Stay in an abusive relationship, rather than be alone.
and We like to think we are victims of these systems and in many ways we are but we are also participants who have adapted to them
We are definitely participants. However, I will also argue that we are conditioned participants, influenced to maintain the status quo, at our own expense.
Thats because we’ve been conditioned to think there are no angels😅