ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book examines theories of revolution, shifts to particular cases, and then returns to theory. It presents a survey of theories of revolution from Karl Marx to the present, demonstrating how changes in the nature of revolutions have often shaped contemporary theorizing. The book suggests that the key elements that lead to revolutions and govern their outcomes. It also examines particular cases of revolution and potentially revolutionary situations, evaluating the framework and drawing attention to the unique factors in each case. From the French Revolution of 1789 to the 1960s, revolutions in smaller states were largely guided by the great powers. Much of the confusion and dismay that the revolutions since 1970 have engendered among scholars derives from the long-cherished belief that revolutions are inherently progressive, often necessary steps on the path to economic and political modernization.
