revolutionsoverthrow

Revolutions overthrow refers to the process by which broad segments of society mobilize to remove an incumbent government or regime and replace it with a new political order. In political science, revolutions that overthrow rulers are distinguished from reformist changes by their aim to alter core institutions, power relations, or social structures rather than simply expand or constrain existing authority.

Mechanisms include mass mobilization, popular protest, civil resistance, and, at times, armed struggle. Crises such as economic collapse, political repression, or broad grievances can ignite revolutions. Movements may proceed nonviolently, violently, or through a mix of tactics, often contending for leadership and legitimacy as state authority erodes.

Outcomes vary: some revolutions create new constitutional orders or liberal democracies; others produce one-party or military regimes or relapse into conflict. Transitions can be swift or protracted, with stability hinging on institutions, economy, and the balance of power among competing groups.

Historical examples described as revolutions overthrowing regimes include the French Revolution (1789), the Russian Revolution (1917), the Chinese Communist Revolution (1949), the Iranian Revolution (1979), and the Cuban Revolution (1959); the 1989 revolutions in Eastern Europe; and, in the Arab world, Tunisia's uprising (2010–2011). Each produced distinct post-revolution paths.

Scholars assess revolutions in terms of legitimacy, transition, and unintended consequences. While revolutions can expand rights and alter social relations, they may also provoke violence, economic disruption, and power vacuums, and outcomes are not predetermined.