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Revolutionary Rehearsals in the Neoliberal Age
This indispensable volume surveys revolutionary upheavals across the world between 1989 and 2019, drawing lessons for theorizing revolution today.
This ambitious volume examines revolutionary situations during a non-revolutionary historical conjuncture--the neoliberal era. The last three decades have seen an increase in the number of political upheavals that challenge existing power structures, many of them taking the form of urban revolts. This book compellingly explores a series of such upheavals--in Eastern Europe, South Africa, Indonesia, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, sub-Saharan Africa (including Congo, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso) and Egypt. Each chapter studies the ways in which protest movements developed into insurgent challenges to state power, and the strategies that regimes have deployed to contain and repress revolt.
In addition to empirical chapters, the book engages in theorization of revolution, dealing with questions such as the patterning of revolution in contemporary history, the relationship between class struggle and social movements, and the prospects of socialist revolution in the twenty-first century.
This ambitious volume examines revolutionary situations during a non-revolutionary historical conjuncture--the neoliberal era. The last three decades have seen an increase in the number of political upheavals that challenge existing power structures, many of them taking the form of urban revolts. This book compellingly explores a series of such upheavals--in Eastern Europe, South Africa, Indonesia, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, sub-Saharan Africa (including Congo, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso) and Egypt. Each chapter studies the ways in which protest movements developed into insurgent challenges to state power, and the strategies that regimes have deployed to contain and repress revolt.
In addition to empirical chapters, the book engages in theorization of revolution, dealing with questions such as the patterning of revolution in contemporary history, the relationship between class struggle and social movements, and the prospects of socialist revolution in the twenty-first century.
410 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
About the author
Colin Barker
13 books4 followersColin Barker was a British sociologist as well as a Marxist historian and writer.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 2, 2022
Excellent book with pertinent deep dives into some of the political upsurges of the last 30 years from 'socialism from below' perspective needed on the left. The end section by Neil Davidson is a great overview of theories if revolution in general.
That said really needed a good summation chapter that attempted to unify the different examples into a more coherent theory. As is the books sections on South Africa, the Pink Tide, etc, stand largely independent of each other. Still worth the read.
That said really needed a good summation chapter that attempted to unify the different examples into a more coherent theory. As is the books sections on South Africa, the Pink Tide, etc, stand largely independent of each other. Still worth the read.
January 8, 2022
I began reading this book for a study group last year, from which we discussed a selection of essays. I decided to read the essays that we didn't discuss, and I am glad that I did.
While some of the essays in this collection are better than others -- in fact, I was leaning towards rating this 4 stars -- the long concluding essay "The Actuality of Revolution" by the late Neil Davidson warrants giving this book a 5 star rating on its own merits.
If you're committed to revolutionary socialism as an idea and a practice, then this book, which offers case studies on the major uprisings of the past 40 years, is worthy of your time and study.
While some of the essays in this collection are better than others -- in fact, I was leaning towards rating this 4 stars -- the long concluding essay "The Actuality of Revolution" by the late Neil Davidson warrants giving this book a 5 star rating on its own merits.
If you're committed to revolutionary socialism as an idea and a practice, then this book, which offers case studies on the major uprisings of the past 40 years, is worthy of your time and study.
October 27, 2024
The efforts to give serious consideration to both the objective and subjective components of what might be necessary for effective and structural change on behalf of the overwhelming majority of the residents of any and all locations... I appreciate the efforts and am overwhelmed by how far we are from what subjective components would be required...
p322. Romantic but doomed guerrilla strategies may have thankfully ceased to be fashionable; moralizing exhortation is, however, unfortunately alive and well.
p322. Romantic but doomed guerrilla strategies may have thankfully ceased to be fashionable; moralizing exhortation is, however, unfortunately alive and well.
December 9, 2024
interesting tidbits of world history, albeit too academic/intellectual for my taste
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews