Question

Definition of revolutionary violence

Answer 1

Answer:

Some theories explain revolution mainly in the sense of a revolutionary movement—a concerted attempt to change government, regime, or society (or all three) by means of violence. Other theories explain revolution mainly in the sense of a revolutionary outcome—a successful change of government, regime, or society (or all three) by means of violence. Still other theories explain revolution mainly in the sense of a revolutionary situation—a contest for state power by means of violence that begins when insurgents claim sovereignty and ends when they overthrow, succumb to, or make peace with the government.

A revolution in one sense can occur without a revolution in the other senses occurring as well. A revolutionary movement can occur without a revolutionary outcome occurring because revolutionaries can fail. A revolutionary outcome can occur without a revolutionary situation occurring because the government in power can make a ‘revolution from above’ à la Stalin and because revolutionaries can take power legally à la Hitler. And a revolutionary situation can occur without a revolutionary outcome occurring because the government under siege can win. But neither a revolutionary situation nor a revolutionary outcome can occur without a revolutionary movement occurring because they each entail revolutionary violence, which takes concerted effort to commit.

The above definitions of revolution overlap with common social science usage, which calls a change of government by means of violence a coup d'état, a change of regime (as well as of government) by means of violence a political revolution, a change of society (as well as of government and regime) by means of violence a social revolution, and a contest for state power by means of violence a civil war. Common social science usage can be misleading, however, especially when it suggests that the facts referred to are mutually exclusive. A coup d'état can become a political revolution, and a political revolution can become a social revolution—if the new government decides to make a ‘revolution from above’ (Colburn 1994).