SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND REVOLUTION.
Abstract
The paper looks at revolution as a special case of social change, as a part of a developmental process. In particular, three countries in the middle 19th century (Germany, France, and Great Britain) are compared and contrasted to determine whether or not changing relationships between social status groupings can become the basis for predicting revolutionary outcomes. Six 'classes' are identified: aristocracy, bourgeoisie, petite bourgeoisie, artisans, industrial workers, and peasantry. France and Germany offer examples of revolutionary development which resulted in failures in their own separate ways. Britain offers an example of a country with similar cultural preconditions but which had no complete revolutionary development. Comparisons of class structure and interaction in these cases disclose important relationships. In the development of revolutionary processes key roles are played by (1) the petite bourgeoisie and artisans who can act as determining swing groups, (2) a viable and powerful aristocracy who can determine the ultimate outcome of revolutions particularly as other groups relate to or align with them, (3) the relationship between the aristocracy and the peasantry especially as this determines the attitude of the peasantry toward revolution, and (4) all classes as internecine conflict and antagonism may redirect and diffuse hostilities. Schematic depictions are provided for these types of relationships. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0638564
Entities
People
- Jack Bloom
Organizations
- American University