Book contents
- The Psychology of Revolution
- The Progressive Psychology Book Series
- The Psychology of Revolution
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Figures
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1 A Psychological Perspective on the Puzzle of Revolution
- Part I Getting to Revolutionary Collective Action
- Part II Regime Change
- Chapter 4 The Tipping Point in Regime Collapse
- Chapter 5 Psychological Processes Underlying Revolutionary Regime Change
- Chapter 6 Psychological Stepping Stones to Revolution
- Part III What Happens after Revolutionary Regime Change?
- Part IV Reevaluating Revolutions
- Afterword: Revolutions as Acts of Collective Creativity
- Notes
- References
- Index
Chapter 4 - The Tipping Point in Regime Collapse
Power and Authority in Transition
from Part II - Regime Change
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 March 2024
- The Psychology of Revolution
- The Progressive Psychology Book Series
- The Psychology of Revolution
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Figures
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter 1 A Psychological Perspective on the Puzzle of Revolution
- Part I Getting to Revolutionary Collective Action
- Part II Regime Change
- Chapter 4 The Tipping Point in Regime Collapse
- Chapter 5 Psychological Processes Underlying Revolutionary Regime Change
- Chapter 6 Psychological Stepping Stones to Revolution
- Part III What Happens after Revolutionary Regime Change?
- Part IV Reevaluating Revolutions
- Afterword: Revolutions as Acts of Collective Creativity
- Notes
- References
- Index
Summary
The tipping point for regime change arrives suddenly and is difficult to predict, even by those leading the revolution, as well as those leading the defense of the ruling regime. For example, at the time of regime collapse in Russia in 1917, Lenin was in Switzerland, Trotsky was in America, and Stalin was in Siberia. Like a dam that suddenly bursts as a result of the addition of a few more small drops of water, the exact moment of regime collapse is difficult to predict - even by leaders in the revolutionary movement and the forces defending the ruling regime. However, the destruction that follows the bursting of the dam is predictable. Three factors are proposed as preparing the ground for regime collapse. First, societal changes, which can be subtle, incremental, and long term. Second, changes in the ruling elite, particularly with respect to cohesion and fragmentation. Third, the emergence of a charismatic leader who takes charge of the revolutionary movement, often opportunistically putting themselves at the front of the movement.
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- The Psychology of Revolution , pp. 59 - 70Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024