POLA02H3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Collective Action, Marxism, Leon Trotsky
Document Summary
Political revolution = any irregular change in government or regime involving mass peaceful protests. Instances in which government or political regime is overthrown by popular movement in an irregular fashion: mass protests, very common. Often peaceful, sometimes result in democracy, often no impact (rapid return of old officials). Social revolution = mass protests, fundamental change in state, regime, and government, and every aspect of society, and the economy. Rapid, fundamental, and often violent transformation of a country"s state structure, social structure, that is accompanied by mass-based revolts from below. Much more profound change in a country"s structure, highly violent. Creates durable authoritarian regimes, creates humanitarian catastrophes, fosters new global ideologies. Grievance and revolution = poverty and misery breed revolution; under extreme conditions, people are pushed to the point that they cannot take it anymore. Counter argument = but in reality misery usually breeds passivity.
