The word revolution means such a transformation in the activities of people and their organizations, which leads to dramatic and global changes. It can occur not only among people, but also in nature and in the scientific field. In social life, a revolution is a rapid leap from one socio-political system to another.
Revolution concept
This word comes from the Latin revolution, which means "turn", "transformation". A revolution is a sharp leap, characterized by a pronounced break with the state that immediately preceded it. This phenomenon is inherent in various aspects of both social life and nature in general. In the political sphere, a revolution is a radical upheaval, a transition from one political order to another.
In nature there is a geological revolution, in society - demographic, cultural, industrial. There is such a thing as scientific and technic althe revolution. It concerns transformations, for example, in computer science, physics, biology, medicine.
The opposite concept is the counter-revolution, which is the restoration of the former order after the coup. It, as a rule, has a regressive orientation, returning the social process to its obsolete state.
What is a political revolution
In the sphere of politics, a revolution is a quick, abrupt transition from one socio-political system to another - a description that is given in Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary. It says that as a result of revolutionary events, the old system is completely eliminated and a new government is established.
For example, during a bourgeois revolution, the domination of the monarch and large feudal lords is overthrown, the leadership of the bourgeois elite is established, farmers are freed from serfdom.
And class distinctions are also being eliminated, nobility ceases to be synonymous with we alth, as the main productive forces in the form of technology, land and other resources pass into the hands of private entrepreneurs. A striking example of this is the Great French Revolution, which took place between 1789 and 1794.
Socialist Revolution
As a result of the socialist revolution, the capitalist system is being replaced by the power of workers and peasants. The first was accomplished in our country. It was preceded by the bourgeois revolution, which took place in two stages (1905-1907, February 1917).
After the victory of the revolutionary forces in October 1917, the power of the bourgeoisie was overthrown. The land, plants and factories were transferred to the people's property. The economy became planned, its main goal was proclaimed to meet the needs of the entire population.
And also socialist include: people's democratic revolutions that swept through the countries of Eastern Europe during the end of World War II, the Chinese revolution of 1949, the Cuban revolution of 1959 and others. As a result of all these events, life in these countries has changed very quickly and on a global level.
Thus, in accordance with the interpretation given by Ozhegov, a revolution is a quick leap from one socio-political state to another.
Evolution, reforms and upheavals
Revolution as a qualitatively new dynamic step in development, leading to very large changes, must be distinguished from such a thing as evolution. It refers to a process where development takes a slow path, where changes occur gradually.
And also revolutionary events must be distinguished from reforms. The difference between them is that the former involve global changes, while the latter concern only changes in one or more parts of the system, without affecting its fundamental foundations.
Sometimes the concept of revolution is not used correctly enough. This word refers to phenomena, although they are of a socio-political nature, butrevolution as a rapid leap from one socio-political position to not being.
These include a coup d'etat, an example of which is the activities of the Chinese leader Mao Zedong, during which he eliminated competitors in the structures of the Communist Party. That is, there is a change of power here, but not building.
Economic causes of social revolutions
To create a revolutionary situation in the country, there must be a number of reasons, the main of which, as a rule, are negative material factors that characterize the economic space. The economic reasons for the revolutionary leap from one system to another, according to Marx's theory, are the following events.
The productive forces of society come into conflict with the relations of production. That is, those property relations that exist at this point in time can no longer provide the vital needs of the vast majority of the country's inhabitants. Particularly affected are the lower strata, whose impoverishment is becoming greater than usual.
Then the masses, led by their ideologues, rise up to fight and sweep away the obsolete economic foundations called the basis, clearing the way for the redistribution of property relations and the emergence of a new superstructure.
Ideological factors
The revolution, characterized by a rapid leap from one socio-political system to another, contains severalcommon features that can also act as its causes.
These include:
- The struggle for power at the top of society, which often draws the masses. They are used to achieve the goals of individual groups.
- Mobilization of the masses, supported by part of the elites, growing into rebellions. They are caused by both the difficult economic situation and social inequality.
- Ideological motives that often unite the people and the upper strata of society and can take the form of a religious, national liberation movement.
- Associated international position. Often, reactionary foreign forces, interfering in the internal politics of another state, support its opposition circles, conduct anti-government propaganda. Sometimes there is open military intervention.
From all that has been said, we can conclude that a revolution is a fast, abrupt transition from one socio-political device to another, characterized by global changes that break the previous foundations and create new ones. It must be distinguished from evolution, in which change occurs gently and gradually.
