Social Revolution

A Social Revolution is a societal change that is a revolutionary change (of social institutions).

• Context:
  • It can range from being an Unplanned Social Revolution to being a Planned Social Revolution.
  • It can range from being a Violent Social Revolution to being a Peaceful Social Revolution.
  • It can range from being a Progressive Social Revolution to being a Regressive Social Revolution (such as the White Terror during the French Revolution).
  • It can (typically) alter the structure and nature of society, including its economy, culture, philosophy, and technology along with political systems.
  • It can be characterized by mass mobilizations that seek to overturn existing social orders.
  • It can be driven by underlying social tensions such as class conflicts or demands for fundamental rights and reforms.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Early Historical Revolutions:
    • The Popular Revolt of 2380 BC in Lagash, Sumeria, against King Lugalanda.
    • The Athenian Revolution of 508/7 BC, marking the beginning of democratic governance in Athens (Ober, 1996).
    • The First Plebeian Revolt of 494 BC, challenging the socio-political hierarchy of ancient Rome.
  • Modern Social Revolutions:
    • The American Colonial Independence Revolution (1765-1783), that establishing independence from British rule.
    • The French Revolution (1789–1799), that altered the French monarchy, society, and political landscape.
    • Haitian Revolution (1791–1804), one that achieved Abolitionism.
    • Russian Revolution (1917), that ended the Tsarist autocracy and leading to the rise of the Soviet Union.
  • Ideologically Driven Revolutions:
    • Cuban Revolution (1953–1959), that focused primarily on political ideology rather than abolitionism.
    • Nicaraguan Revolution (1960s–1990), which had different socio-political dynamics and goals.
    • Chinese Cultural Revolution, aiming to preserve 'true' Communist ideology and purge remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society.
  • Social Policy and Rights Movements:
    • U.S. Abolition of Slavery, leading to the prohibition of slavery and emancipation of slaves in the United States.
    • U.S. New Deal, implementing a series of programs, public work projects, and financial reforms and regulations.
    • Universal Declaration of Human Rights, establishing a global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled.
  • Newly Added Examples:
    • Iranian Revolution (1979), which led to the establishment of an Islamic Republic.
    • Egyptian Revolution of 2011, part of the Arab Spring, aimed at ending decades of authoritarian governance.
    • Rojava Revolution, an ongoing multi-ethnic and feminist social revolution in Northern Syria.
    • Velvet Revolution (1989), a non-violent transition of power in Czechoslovakia, marking the end of Communist rule.
    • Quiet Revolution (1960-1966), a period of intense socio-political and cultural change in Quebec, Canada.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • An Economic Revolution, such as the Industrial Revolution, which primarily involves changes in the means of production.
  • A Social Evolution, which indicates gradual and progressive social changes.
  • A Personal Revolution, signifying individual transformation and self-improvement.
• See: Revolt, Human History, Ideology, Culture, Political Institution, Social Science.

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References

• http://wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_revolutions_and_rebellions

2014

• (Wikipedia, 2014) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/revolution Retrieved:2014-12-24.
  • … Aristotle described two types of political revolution:
    1. Complete change from one constitution to another
    2. Modification of an existing constitution.
  • Revolutions have occurred through human history and vary widely in terms of methods, duration, and motivating ideology. Their results include major changes in culture, economy, and socio-political institutions.

    Scholarly debates about what does and does not constitute a revolution center on several issues. Early studies of revolutions primarily analyzed events in European history from a psychological perspective, but more modern examinations include global events and incorporate perspectives from several social sciences, including sociology and political science. Several generations of scholarly thought on revolutions have generated many competing theories and contributed much to the current understanding of this complex phenomenon.

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