The course of history has been greatly defined by political and social events of tremendous significance; revolutions. Several of the most influential international alliances and feuds of the twenty-first century were generated by these occurrences, and states such as Russia and Iran have managed to deeply impact the international world order through their revolutionary behavior and ideology. It is due to its complexity and historical impact that the study of revolutions has informed the theoretical analyzes of political scientists. This study discusses prominent theories of revolution to provide an analytical framework: Marxism, Modernization, Relative Deprivation, and Mobilization. The thesis then assesses these theories by applying them to two of the most influential revolutions of the twentieth century: The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 in Russia and the Muslim Revolution of 1979 in Iran. Each case study addresses the economic, social, and political conditions present prior to each society’s respective revolution. A final comparison of both case studies, based on revolutionary theories, reveals the specific variables necessary for the formation and success of revolutionary movements.

This diploma thesis deals with the problematics of revolutions. Namely with various interpretations of Velvet revolution in Czechoslovakia. First part tries to outline historical development of theories of revolution. The Research of revolutions undergone several generations and shifts of interests. This work tries to map the evolution from the oldest modern authors to the current ones and describe their points of view and how they approach revolutions. In second part, there are presented various views on Velvet revolution in Czechoslovakia. First, they are presented schematically and put in context, then they are described in detail. These interpretations are based on various assumptions and see Velvet revolution from various angles. In Third part the various interpretations are juxtaposed and are described, respectively their view of three aspects of Velvet revolution - causes, process and outcomes of revolution. These various views are then commented by using authors of general theories of revolutions. The goal of this approach is to enable better understanding of Velvet revolution, by sharpening the contures of the whole proces and also show the possibilities of use of general theories of revolution. Key words: revolution, theory of revolution, Velvet revolution, causes, process, outcomes

Ce mémoire est essentiellement une revue de littérature critique, comparative et complémentariste de quelques-unes des grandes théories de la révolution. L’auteur cherche, à travers le cas particulier de la révolution, à mieux cerner certains enjeux cruciaux de changements sociaux. Il s’interroge, notamment, sur la nature et l’importance du projet révolutionnaire en relation avec la mobilisation et l’issue révolutionnaire. La majeure partie du mémoire est consacré à la constitution d’un portrait des théories dites « classique », celle de Marx, Moore, Gurr, Tilly, Johnson, Wallace, Brinton, puis celle, originale et méconnue, du religiologue Jean-Jacques Dubois. Après en avoir tiré les thématiques essentielles, l’auteur tente une comparaison critique et discute de la pertinence épistémique de chacun des concepts. Dans une perspective synthétique, il entreprend finalement d’en combler les lacunes en s’intéressant à leurs aspects complémentaires. / This memoir is essentially a critical, comparative and complementarist literature review of some of the major theories on revolutions. The author seeks, through exploring the particular topic of revolution, to better understand some of the critical issues of social change. He notably interrogates the nature and importance of the revolution project in relation to mobilization and the destiny of revolutions. Most of the memoir is dedicated to the exposition of the so-called « classical » theories of Marx, Moore, Gurr, Tilly, Johnson, Wallace, Brinton, also included the less known, original approach of religiologist Jean-Jacques Dubois. After demonstrating the essential themes, the author attempts to critically compare and discuss the epistemic relevance of each concept. In a synthetic perspective, he concludes by attempting to fill in the gaps through focusing on their complementary aspects.

Il y a plus d’un siècle, le penseur et anarchiste Gustav Landauer (1870-1919) était considéré comme « l’agitateur le plus important du mouvement révolutionnaire radical » en Allemagne. Si l’on se souvient parfois de sa participation à la République des conseils de Bavière et de son assassinat par les troupes contre-révolutionnaires, l’écho suscité par son œuvre s’est rapidement estompé. Son corpus hétéroclite connaît pourtant un vif regain d’intérêt aujourd’hui.Sa génération fit les frais – et la critique – de rapides transformations sociales, économiques et culturelles. Sur fond d’un sentiment de déprise individuelle, Landauer dénonça la massification des structures sociales et chercha à concevoir – dans la pensée et dans l’action – le modèle d’une nouvelle alliance, non autoritaire, articulant les aspirations individuelles et l’esprit de solidarité présent en chacun. Dans la vie politique et intellectuelle de l’Allemagne wilhelmienne, l’auteur se signale par son opposition à l’organisation impériale comme à la social-démocratie d’obédience marxiste. Contre la politique de la table rase et contre la croyance en un progrès nécessaire de l’humanité, Landauer estime que le changement doit être impulsé par l’intervention des individus et des groupements dans le cours de l’histoire. Plus que la simple insurrection individuelle, Landauer explore le potentiel révolutionnaire de la communauté vécue tout en théorisant la nécessité des révolutions pour faire communauté. Son « socialisme culturel » est une tentative pour susciter, ici et maintenant, la création de nouveaux rapports entre les êtres humains.Ses analyses constituent une entrée privilégiée dans les problématiques majeures de son époque, qu’elles soient politiques, sociales, littéraires ou philosophiques. Cette monographie resitue la réflexion de Gustav Landauer dans les débats de son temps et discute de ses implications pour une pensée et une action émancipatrice jusqu’à nos jours. / More than a century ago, thinker and anarchist Gustav Landauer (1870-1919) was considered as “the most important agitator of the radical revolutionary movement” in Germany. Nowadays, Landauer is sometimes remembered for his role in the Bavarian Council Republic and for being murdered by counter-revolutionary troops, but the echo of his work has faded away. However, his heterogeneous work currently meets with a vivid renewed interest.His generation criticised the quick social, economic and cultural transformations, while bearing their costs. Landauer’s feeling of individual disentanglement founded his criticism of the massification of all social structures. He tried to conceive – both in thought and action – the model for a new and non-authoritarian alliance, one which could combine the personal yearnings and the spirit of solidarity found in every individual. In the political and intellectual life of Wilhelmine Germany, Landauer opposed both the imperial organisation and the Marxist social-democracy. In opposition with politics willing to make a clean slate of the past and against the belief in a necessary progress of humanity, Landauer believed that change had to stem from the intervention of individuals and small groups in the course of history. More than mere individual insurrection, Landauer explored the revolutionary potential of experienced community, and he theorised the necessary role of revolutions in bringing community together. His “cultural socialism” is an attempt to trigger, here and now, the creation of new relationships between human beings.His analyses offer valuable insight into the major issues of his time, be they political, social, literary or philosophical. This monography places Gustav Landauer’s thought back in the debates of his time. It also discusses its consequences for emancipatory thought and action up to the present day.

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