Revolutions: A Very Short Introduction

Revolutionaries have challenged the power of monarchies, empires, and dictatorships, resulting in violent and successful revolutions. This Very Short Introduction explores the development of revolutions through history, including the American and communist revolutions, and the non-violent color revolutions and Arab Uprisings. It examines the causes of revolutionary waves, the role of leaders, and the strategies and processes of change. It also explores the role of social media and nonviolence in modern revolutions and the diverse outcomes of revolutions.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 28 December 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

Revolutionaries have embarked on a relentless pursuit of social justice, challenging the formidable forces of monarchies, empires, and dictatorships. Their endeavors have often resulted in catastrophic violence, yielding both remarkable victories and devastating defeats. This concise introduction delves into the world of revolutionaries, exploring their strategies, triumphs, and failures. From the city-states of ancient Greece and Rome to the Renaissance and Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the liberal constitutional revolutions in America, Jack Goldstone traces the evolution of revolutions. He highlights how revolutions toppled dictators in Nicaragua and Iran, leading to the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Moreover, he examines the recent wave of non-violent color revolutions, including the Philippines' Yellow Revolution and Ukraine's Orange Revolution, as well as the Arab Uprisings of 2011–12, which shook the Middle East.

In this revised edition, Goldstone sheds light on the major theories of revolution, delving into the causes of revolutionary waves, the roles of revolutionary leaders, the processes and strategies of revolutionary change, and the intricate interplay between revolutions and shifting patterns of global power. He also explores the role of social media and nonviolence in contemporary revolutions. Furthermore, he examines the diverse outcomes of revolutions, ranging from democracy to civil war and authoritarian rule, and predicts the future trajectory of revolution in the years to come.

This brief introduction serves as a valuable resource for those seeking to understand the complexities and dynamics of revolution, offering insights into the historical and contemporary forces that shape our world.

Weight: 150g
Dimension: 110 x 174 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197666302
Edition number: 2 Revised edition