September 19, 2015September 19, 2015September 19, 2015Comparative Politics1 Revolution and Political...

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 Comparative PoliticsComparative Politics 11

Revolution and Revolution and Political ViolencePolitical Violence

Frank H. BrooksFrank H. Brooks


Revolution: What, Revolution: What, When, Why, HowWhen, Why, How WhatWhat

– defining revolution defining revolution – distinguishing it from other kinds of sociopolitical changedistinguishing it from other kinds of sociopolitical change

WhenWhen– historical necessity? historical necessity? – possible only at certain stages of development?possible only at certain stages of development?

WhyWhy– Causes of revolutionCauses of revolution– Necessary v. sufficientNecessary v. sufficient– Successful v. attemptedSuccessful v. attempted

HowHow– Determinants of successDeterminants of success– Also consider who (role of elites, masses)Also consider who (role of elites, masses)


Etymology of Etymology of “Revolution”“Revolution”

Scientific uses carried over into politicsScientific uses carried over into politics– Heavenly bodies “revolve”Heavenly bodies “revolve”– Cyclical view of historyCyclical view of history

Dramatic break or changeDramatic break or change– Linked to progressive view of historyLinked to progressive view of history– C. 17C. 17thth and 18 and 18thth centuries in Europe centuries in Europe

Modern usageModern usage– Break in continuity; sudden, decisive Break in continuity; sudden, decisive

changechange– Not just used in politicsNot just used in politics


Revolution in a Revolution in a Taxonomy of Political Taxonomy of Political ChangeChange Distinguishing revolution from other kinds of Distinguishing revolution from other kinds of

radical political changeradical political change Rebellion v. revolutionRebellion v. revolution Taxonomy of “internal wars”Taxonomy of “internal wars”

– Jacquerie – mass peasant uprisingJacquerie – mass peasant uprising– Millenarian – social movement infused with utopiaMillenarian – social movement infused with utopia– Conspiratorial coup d’etat – no mass participationConspiratorial coup d’etat – no mass participation– Militarized mass insurrection – guerrilla war Militarized mass insurrection – guerrilla war

mobilizes mass consciousnessmobilizes mass consciousness– Jacobin-Communist revolution – sweeping social Jacobin-Communist revolution – sweeping social

change led by vanguardchange led by vanguard


Defining Revolution IDefining Revolution I

Focus on what is changedFocus on what is changed Change in government or personnelChange in government or personnel

– Can be accomplished by election or coupCan be accomplished by election or coup Change in governmental form (regime)Change in governmental form (regime)

– E.g. shift from monarchy to republicE.g. shift from monarchy to republic Change in societyChange in society

– Can include economy, but also culture, Can include economy, but also culture, religion, familyreligion, family

– The “social question”The “social question” Classic “social revolution” includes all Classic “social revolution” includes all

threethree


Defining Revolution IIDefining Revolution II

Focus on peculiar characteristics of Focus on peculiar characteristics of revolutionary process (Eisenstadt)revolutionary process (Eisenstadt)

Radical transformation of the rules of the Radical transformation of the rules of the political gamepolitical game

Novel visions of the political and social Novel visions of the political and social orderorder– Tend to be utopian and universalisticTend to be utopian and universalistic– Political programs revolve around new Political programs revolve around new

“cosmologies”“cosmologies”– Also involves novel overall cultural agendasAlso involves novel overall cultural agendas


Which “revolutions” Which “revolutions” count?count? Classifying events usually discussed as Classifying events usually discussed as

revolutionsrevolutions England (1640s) - yesEngland (1640s) - yes America in 1770s-1780s – noAmerica in 1770s-1780s – no France in 1780s-1790s – yesFrance in 1780s-1790s – yes Mexico (1910-40) – yesMexico (1910-40) – yes China (1910-49) – yesChina (1910-49) – yes Russia (1917) – February no, October yesRussia (1917) – February no, October yes Cuba (1959) - yesCuba (1959) - yes Iran (1979) – yesIran (1979) – yes Eastern Europe (1989) – debatableEastern Europe (1989) – debatable


Are Revolutions Are Revolutions Necessarily Violent?Necessarily Violent? Many definitions refer to violent overthrow of Many definitions refer to violent overthrow of

established regimeestablished regime Violence not peculiar to revolutionViolence not peculiar to revolution ““legitimate” v. “illegitimate” violencelegitimate” v. “illegitimate” violence

– Government’s use of violence legitimateGovernment’s use of violence legitimate– Revolutionaries’ isn’t (yet)Revolutionaries’ isn’t (yet)

Can a revolution be accomplished Can a revolution be accomplished “nonviolently”?“nonviolently”?– Poland and Solidarity?Poland and Solidarity?– Philippines and “people power”?Philippines and “people power”?– Revolutions? Or, simply overthrowing tyrants?Revolutions? Or, simply overthrowing tyrants?


When do Revolutions When do Revolutions Happen?Happen? Theoretical assumptionsTheoretical assumptions

– Linked to progressive view of historyLinked to progressive view of history– Especially, modernization theoryEspecially, modernization theory

Most likely during early stages of modernizationMost likely during early stages of modernization– Linked to “crisis” of legitimacyLinked to “crisis” of legitimacy– Breakdown of old regime is necessary conditionBreakdown of old regime is necessary condition– Not sufficient – non-revolutionary resolutions of crisis possible, Not sufficient – non-revolutionary resolutions of crisis possible,

as are repressive responsesas are repressive responses Marxist theoryMarxist theory

– Political shift corresponding to change in forces and relations of Political shift corresponding to change in forces and relations of productionproduction

– French Revolution premature as socialist revolutionFrench Revolution premature as socialist revolution Rephrase question: when are revolutions possible?Rephrase question: when are revolutions possible?

– Consider earlier revolutions as models, inspirationConsider earlier revolutions as models, inspiration– Can societies be “past” the revolutionary stage?Can societies be “past” the revolutionary stage?– Does this mean an “end of history”? Does this mean an “end of history”?


Why do Revolutions Why do Revolutions Occur?Occur? Focus on causal theoriesFocus on causal theories

– why do revolutions happen when and where why do revolutions happen when and where they do?they do?

– Why do they succeed?Why do they succeed? Social PsychologySocial Psychology MarxismMarxism FunctionalismFunctionalism Comparative HistoryComparative History Skocpol’s Skocpol’s States and Social RevolutionsStates and Social Revolutions


Social-Psychological Social-Psychological Theories of RevolutionTheories of Revolution Focus on attitudes leading to Focus on attitudes leading to

revolutionary actionrevolutionary action– Mostly economicMostly economic– Psychological preconditionsPsychological preconditions

Relative deprivation Relative deprivation – Gurr, Gurr, Why Men RebelWhy Men Rebel– Furet, “Furet, “On Revolutions…”On Revolutions…”

J-curve theory (Davies)J-curve theory (Davies) CritiqueCritique


Marx’s Theory of Marx’s Theory of RevolutionRevolution Focus on historical necessity rooted in Focus on historical necessity rooted in

economicseconomics– Not primarily psychological or politicalNot primarily psychological or political

Contradictions between forces and Contradictions between forces and mode of productionmode of production

Self-conscious action by revolutionary Self-conscious action by revolutionary classclass– Made possible by economic contradictionsMade possible by economic contradictions– Specifics varied from country to countrySpecifics varied from country to country

CritiqueCritique


Functionalist Theories Functionalist Theories of Revolutionof Revolution Focus on consistency between Focus on consistency between

political systems and sociopolitical political systems and sociopolitical valuesvalues

Revolution is breakdown of stabilityRevolution is breakdown of stability– System becomes “dissynchronized”System becomes “dissynchronized”– Violence only likely when there’s a Violence only likely when there’s a

crisis of legitimacycrisis of legitimacy CritiqueCritique


Comparative History Comparative History Explains RevolutionExplains Revolution Seeks patterns (especially political) in Seeks patterns (especially political) in

major revolutionsmajor revolutions– E.g. Crane Brinton, E.g. Crane Brinton, The Anatomy of The Anatomy of

RevolutionRevolution– Charles Tilly, Charles Tilly, From Mobilization to RevolutionFrom Mobilization to Revolution

Resources for collective action, not Resources for collective action, not motivation for violencemotivation for violence

Emergence of “multiple sovereignty”Emergence of “multiple sovereignty” Why revolutions succeedWhy revolutions succeed


Skocpol: Skocpol: States and States and Social RevolutionsSocial Revolutions Structural focus, rather than voluntaristStructural focus, rather than voluntarist

– ““revolutions are not made, they come”revolutions are not made, they come”– Structural weakness of stateStructural weakness of state

International and world-historical contextInternational and world-historical context– International crisesInternational crises– Revolutions occur in states in disadvantaged Revolutions occur in states in disadvantaged

international positioninternational position Potential autonomy of the statePotential autonomy of the state

– Not merely a tool or arenaNot merely a tool or arena– ““Janus-faced” – internal and external orientationJanus-faced” – internal and external orientation

Critique – does this apply beyond the Critique – does this apply beyond the “classic” revolutions?“classic” revolutions?

September 19, 2015September 19, 2015September 19, 2015Comparative Politics1 Revolution and Political...

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