Blog 8

Often when we consider instances of political violence it is difficult to accurately determine which term is proper to use as a label for that conflict.  This may be because the definitions are not accurate enough, or it might be because the incident of political violence being considered is strange or unique. In this blog we will discuss the events of the French Revolution that occurred in the 1780’s and 90’s and see if those events meet all of the conditions specified in the definition of a revolution given in the Comparative Politics textbook.

According to the Comparative Politics textbook a revolution is defined as an “armed conflict within a sovereign state between insurgents and the state, in which 1) both the insurgents and the state claim the allegiance of a significant proportion of the population; 2) authority over the state is forcibly transferred from the state to the insurgents, and 3) the insurgents subsequently bring about wholesale political change.” The events of the French Revolution correspond with each of these four requirements. First, the French revolution was an “armed conflict within a sovereign state.”(Samuels) There were several significantly sized mobs that overran government strongholds, such as the storming of the Bastille Prison which sent governments troops scattering and the nobles fled the country, as well as the storming of the Kings Royal Palace by a large mob. Second, both sides of the conflict claimed the allegiance of a large portion of the population. The insurgents had the allegiance of the much of the middle class, and the government had the support of the army and the nobles. (Hamerow) Both of these groups made up sizeable portions of the country’s population.  Third, the insurgents successfully overthrew the government by force. As has already been pointed out the nobles were chased out of the country by a large group of insurgents, and in 1792 a mob of insurgents attacked the Royal Palace of the King and arrested him. This left the insurgents with complete authority over the state, and the ability to govern the people as they pleased. Lastly the insurgents brought about a complete political change. In 1792, right after the arrest of the King the government changed from a monarchy to a republic. (Hamerow) The king had absolutely no power anymore, there was now a separation of powers between the legislative and executive powers, and political parties, rather than the wealthiest, held the most political influence. (Hamerow) Also adding to the political change was the execution of the King in 1793, this insured that the French government would not resort back to being a monarchy. (Hamerow)

By looking at all of these events of the French revolution and comparing them with the definition of a revolution, we can confirm with certainty that the French Revolution was a revolution. This connection also shows that the definition of a revolution given in the Comparative Politics textbooks is a strong one.   

   

Works Cited:

Hamerow, Harold French Revolution, 2012. http://faculty.ucc.edu/egh-damerow/french_revolution.htm

Samuels J. David, Comparative Politics. Print.