-- James A. Donald:
(the Russian communist revolution was not a revolution, but merely a coup by a little conspiracy. Same for the Sandinista revolution).
measl@mfn.org
I'm curious how you draw the line? I.e., what defines a genuine revolution as opposed to a "mere" coup?
A revolution involves mass participation, and widespread spontaneous defiance of state authority. A coup involves a tiny little secretive conspiracy. A coup is announced, a revolution experienced. Few proletarians in Russia had heard of the communists, until they learnt they were the government. There was a real revolution in Russia, but many people felt the revolution had failed, since the new government was still trying to prosecute the war, and was still dominated by the rather small group that had been dominant under the Tzar. Then there was a coup by an even smaller group against this new regime. --digsig James A. Donald 6YeGpsZR+nOTh/cGwvITnSR3TdzclVpR0+pr3YYQdkG OB/GOuA4JAkfxP4knqOf5CtzmUwMdXLvcPtU4zod 4lAQXXdyE53P/QtVYnhCF2kjXLT0G14uFiMkmFHZE