You Say You Want a Revolution?: Radical Idealism and Its Tragic Consequences

Daniel Chirot's book "You Say You Want a Revolution?" examines why many modern revolutions have ended in bloodshed and failure, and what lessons can be drawn from these failures for today's world of growing extremism. He finds that moderate solutions to serious social, economic, and political problems were often overwhelmed by radical ideologies that promised simpler, drastic remedies. The book explains why violent radicalism, corruption, and the betrayal of ideals won in many crucial cases, why it didn't in some others, and what the long-term prospects for major social change are if liberals can't deliver needed reforms. It is a powerful account of the unintended consequences of revolutionary change and contains critically important lessons for today's liberal democracies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

Why have so many of the iconic revolutions of modern times ended in bloody tragedies? And what lessons can be drawn from these failures today, in a world where political extremism is on the rise and rational reform based on moderation and compromise often seems impossible to achieve?

In his book, "You Say You Want a Revolution?" Daniel Chirot examines a wide range of right- and left-wing revolutions around the world, from the late eighteenth century to the present, to provide important new answers to these critical questions. Chirot finds that moderate solutions to serious social, economic, and political problems were overwhelmed by radical ideologies that promised simpler, drastic remedies. However, not all revolutions had this outcome. The American Revolution, for example, did not, although its failure to resolve the problem of slavery eventually led to the Civil War. The collapse of communism in Eastern Europe was relatively peaceful, except in Yugoslavia.

From Japan, North Korea, Vietnam, and Cambodia to Algeria, Angola, Haiti, and Romania, "You Say You Want a Revolution?" explains why violent radicalism, corruption, and the betrayal of ideals won in so many crucial cases, why it didn't in some others, and what the long-term prospects for major social change are if liberals can't deliver needed reforms.

A powerful account of the unintended consequences of revolutionary change, "You Say You Want a Revolution?" is filled with critically important lessons for today's liberal democracies struggling with new forms of extremism.

Weight: 316g
Dimension: 156 x 235 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691234328