Analysis of the Anatomy of Revolution by Crane Brinton

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Revolution by Crane Brinton
Causes of Revolution
Revolution is a process that is preceded by events. Brinton calls such events causes and notes them as follows. First a nation exhibit discontent among its citizens especially of the social class followed by their restless feeling. However, the government at the time holds them citizens by imposing restrictions on religion, the society and in the economy. Besides, the citizen's hope diminishes amidst failed promises regarding the future. Consequently, the government forces the citizens to accept the hardships. Separately, people begin to group themselves into social classes with an increase in bitterness between the classes with the hostile classes being closes to each other. At the time the government declines to respond to the needs of its citizens and the ruling class begins to realize their incompetence. Therefore, others move and join the opposition while the think tanks and scholars give up on reforming the society. As a result, the government becomes bankrupt and imposes heavy taxes on the citizens.
Evolution of Revolution
Revolution sometimes is mistakenly used instead for evolution in the social and political arena. However, their meanings seem to be antagonistic. Evolution as a word denotes gradual and continuous change and development in morals and ideas that seem to progress in the antithesis of revolution. Contrarily, revolution depicts rapid change or transformation of a system of rule that entails some uprising or revolts as well as a catastrophe that cause an abrupt change in the equilibrium of life in the society (Stone 156). Evolution involves people, the environment, living things, religion, culture or technology that become part of the growth to improve the current status. However, revolution implies abrupt changes that are subversive with a complete shift in the concept of life especially the factors that question the status quo or tradition. In most cases, revolution term is used in the change of existing government that is overthrown by its citizens who are fed up with its policies and system of rule. Revolution usually follows the desire to take action against the oppressive regime. The opposition of a current government usually takes such activities with or without assistance from external force or shock that leads to a change in the form of society. Therefore, an evolution of a revolution brings about a dramatic change in the society, technological change, personal change and political change that results to new systems of governments, new communities and unique way of beings (Tanter and Midlarsky 280).
The popular revolutions that brought changes in different societies include the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Bolshevik Revolution, and the Protestant Revolution among others. All these revolutions showed common objective of change in the traditions and system of the rule at their times. However, such changes never took the aspect of gradual transformation. Instead, they were abrupt with uprisings and revolts to oust the oppressing regimes (Tanter and Midlarsky 280).
Analysis of the Anatomy of Revolution by Crane Brinton
Crane Brinton in his book Anatomy of Revolution provides a deta...