Revolució

Revolució is a term used to describe a fundamental and often rapid transformation of a society's political, social, or economic order. Revolutions involve a radical change in how power is exercised, how laws are made, and how resources are distributed. They can occur swiftly through upheaval and conflict, or develop over time as long-term pressures accumulate.

Etymology and usage: The word derives from Latin revolutio "a turning back" and entered Romance languages via French révolution. In Catalan, revolució denotes both political upheaval and broader shifts, including technological or scientific change, such as revolució industrial or revolució digital.

Categories and examples: Political revolutions aim to replace or reorganize the state and its legitimacy, often replacing rulers or constitutions. Social revolutions seek sweeping changes in class relations and rights. Economic revolutions involve transformative changes in production and trade. Scientific and technological revolutions refer to broad shifts in knowledge and practice. Notable examples include la Revolució Francesa (1789–1799), la Revolució Americana, and la Revolució Russa (1917), as well as the Industrial Revolution in the 18th–19th centuries and the Digital Revolution of the late 20th century.

Causes and dynamics: Revolutions typically arise from a combination of long-run structural pressures—economic hardship, political illegitimacy, social grievances—and short-run triggers such as crisis, war, or charismatic leadership. Analysts describe stages: pre-revolutionary crisis, rupture or revolt, the establishment of a new order, and the consolidation or stabilization of that order, though not all revolutions follow a uniform path.

Impact and evaluation: Revolutions can reshape constitutions, institutions, and norms, expanding rights or redistributing power, but they can also cause violence, war, or prolonged instability. Their legacies vary widely; some lead to democratization or modernization, others to authoritarian regimes or counter-revolutions. In historiography, revolutions are distinguished from reforms by aiming to overthrow the existing system and launching a new order.