Social revolution

Quick Facts: Who was Social revolution?

Subject:

Social revolution

Known for:

Sudden societal transformation affecting structure, economy, culture, and politics.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Social revolutions are sudden changes in the structure and nature of society. These revolutions are usually recognized as having transformed society, economy, culture, philosophy, and technology along with, though more than solely, the political systems. Theda Skocpol in her article "France, Russia, China: A Structural Analysis of Social Revolutions" states that social revolution is a "combination of thoroughgoing structural transformation and massive national and class upheavals". She comes to this definition by combining Samuel P. Huntington's definition that it "is a rapid, fundamental, and violent domestic change in the dominant values and myths of society, in its political institutions, social structure, leadership, and government activities and policies" and Vladimir Lenin's, which is that revolutions are "the festivals of the oppressed...[who act] as creators of a new social order". She also states that this definition excludes many revolutions, because they fail to meet either or both of the two parts of this definition.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Academics have identified certain factors that have mitigated the rise of revolutions. Many historians have held that the rise and spread of Methodism in Great Britain prevented the development of a revolution there. In addition to preaching the Christian Gospel, John Wesley and his Methodist followers visited those imprisoned, as well as the poor and aged, building hospitals and dispensaries which provided free healthcare for the masses. regenerated by Wesleyan preaching." The practice of temperance among Methodists, as well as their rejection of gambling, allowed them to eliminate secondary poverty and accumulate capital. which worked against the polarization of English society into rigid social classes." The historian Bernard Semmel argues that "Methodism was an antirevolutionary movement that succeeded (to the extent that it did) because it was a revolution of a radically different kind" that was capable of effecting social change on a large scale.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Skocpol distinguishes her theory from psychological theories of revolution ("aggregate psychological theories"), theories of systems and values, and theories about political conflicts. Ted Robert Gurr and his book Why Men Rebel is given as an example of a psychological theory with this theory explaining violence as a result of anger deriving from an inability of individuals to achieve or do the things they value a state called relative deprivation. Charles Tilly with this book From Mobilization to Revolution is given as an example of a political conflict theory. He argues that groups with resources competed for political power, and that changes in access to resources could result in revolution. Chalmers Johnson, with his book Revolutionary Change, discusses a value-based model.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Social revolution

True or False: “Theda Skocpol's theory suggests that all major societal changes are classified as social revolutions.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Skocpol notes that her definition excludes many revolutions because they fail to meet either or both of the two required components.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Social War (91–88 BC) — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The conflict (91–88 BC) where Roman allies rebelled against the Roman Republic.
• Socialist Republic of Romania — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Communist state existing from 1947 to the Romanian Revolution in 1989.
• Socialist state — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A sovereign state constitutionally dedicated to the establishment of socialism.
• Society of Berbice — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A Dutch chartered company governing the profitable colony of Berbice in Guyana.
• Society of Suriname — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A powerful Dutch chartered company managing Suriname's colony for profit.
• Society of the United Scotsmen — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A Scottish political reform society advocating for universal suffrage and republicanism.

Frequently Asked Questions about Social revolution