Varying Forms of Violence in Revolutions from 1776 to 1990

Seminar Paper , 2003 , 10 Pages , Grade: 1,6

History - Basics

Varying Forms of Violence in Revolutions from 1776 to 1990

The term revolution in its original meaning was a synonym for “restoration” of a political system which meant a return to some prior state of affairs. Only after the French Revolution did this definition change. Today we understand it as an overthrow and transformation of a political regime caused by popular rebellions or insurrections. This overthrow usually involves violent means. Some scientists even call a revolution the “most consequential and (frequently) violent form of political conflict in history”(1) and state that violence is an essential characteristic of revolutions. Most revolutions in fact were characterized by a large degree of violence among the government and oppositional groups. Violence in revolutions simply occurs because governments are usually not willing to transfer power to a new group of people. This of course creates tensions. Social movements, rebellions, riots, coups d’etat, and other political conflicts have often been closely connected with revolutions or revolutionary situations.
There are basically four major forms of violence we can distinguish between. The first and most frequent one is direct violence against the regime and its leaders. In this case government officials, politicians, or in former times nobles are attacked by the common people. Closely connected to this is violence against the police in a state. This is a rather modern phenomenon in which the police embodies the government because leaders are protected by special security agencies. A third form of violence is directed against large portions of the public. This can be carried out either by the original government as a response to rebellions or by new groups who seized power during the revolution. These new governments might now feel that they have to stabilize the new regime and therefore use force to keep further uprisings down. Good examples for this type of violence are the French and Russian revolutions. A forth form of violence is the symbolic one. In this case there is no physical harm done to any persons. [...]
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(1) See Anarchism – Topics & Definitions – Revolutions

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Varying Forms of Violence in Revolutions from 1776 to 1990
• Introduction
• The American Revolution
• The Sons of Liberty and the Stamp Act
• The Boston Tea Party
• The Russian Revolution
• The February Revolution
• The October Revolution
• The Civil War
• The East German Revolution

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay explores the different forms of violence employed in revolutions, using the American, Russian, and East German revolutions as examples. The essay aims to compare and contrast the violence used in these revolutions, highlighting similarities and differences. Additionally, it examines changes in the nature of revolutions in the modern era.

• Forms of violence in revolutions
• The role of elite groups in instigating violence
• The impact of the nature of revolution on the level of violence
• The transition from violent to non-violent revolutions
• The evolution of revolutions over time

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The American Revolution: This chapter examines the role of violence in the American Revolution, focusing on symbolic and limited violence against British authorities. It explores the significance of crowd action and the actions of groups like the Sons of Liberty.
• The Russian Revolution: This chapter analyzes the Russian Revolution, highlighting the distinction between the initial less-violent stages and the subsequent violent period following the regime change. It discusses the Bolshevik takeover, the ensuing civil war, and the use of terror by the Cheka.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This essay examines the key concepts of revolution, violence, regime change, and political conflict. It analyzes the role of elite groups, crowd action, symbolic violence, and the transition from violent to non-violent revolutions. The essay also explores the impact of the nature of revolution on the level of violence and the evolution of revolutions over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different forms of violence in revolutions?

There are four major forms: direct violence against the regime, violence against the police/security forces, violence against the public (terror), and symbolic violence.

How did violence differ between the American and Russian revolutions?

The American Revolution involved more symbolic and limited violence, while the Russian Revolution transitioned into extreme physical violence and civil war after the regime change.

What is "symbolic violence" in a revolutionary context?

Symbolic violence involves actions that do no physical harm to persons but attack symbols of the regime, such as the Boston Tea Party during the American Revolution.

Why does violence often occur during a revolution?

Violence typically occurs because established governments are unwilling to transfer power voluntarily, leading to escalations between the regime and oppositional groups.

Was the East German Revolution of 1989 violent?

The East German Revolution is a key example of a modern non-violent revolution, where regime change was achieved through peaceful protest rather than armed conflict.

• College: International University Bremen
• Grade: 1,6
• Author: Frederik Boesch (Author)
• Publication Year: 2003
• Pages: 10
• Catalog Number: V50632
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638468190
• ISBN (Book): 9783640857791
• Language: English
• Tags: Varying, Forms, Violence, Revolutions