Revolution, Theories of

Abstract

Revolution has different meanings, and theories of revolution do not all explain the same facts. Some theories explain revolution in the sense of a revolutionary movement – an attempt to change government, regime, society, or all three by violence. Others explain revolution in the sense of a revolutionary outcome – a successful change of government, regime, society, or all three by violence. Still others explain revolution in the sense of a revolutionary situation – a contest for state power by violence. But all theories of revolution shortlist explanatory causes and validate the explanation with case histories or statistics to show by the comparative method that where these causes occur, a revolution (by some definition) occurs as well and that where they do not occur, revolution (by that definition) does not occur either. Grouped by causes they cite, theories of revolution make up four types – psychological, functional, structural, and political. Psychological and functional theories mostly explain revolutionary movements; structural theories mostly explain revolutionary outcomes; and political theories mostly explain revolutionary situations. Theories of revolution are contentious, but few controvert the ancient wisdom that revolution needs hope of success and that hope feeds on a weak government torn by faction.