Revolutionarys Handbook

Brad Wesley

I am starting to write a book about how to lead a successful revolution based on historys successes and failures.
Has anybody got any opinions on whether it would it would be a good idea or not. I need to improve my spelling.

cavedave

Eppur si muove

This sums up the most successful revolution. It did not work out too well for the instigator.

DadaKopf

Wasn't just him, dude. But I getcha. We're in the middle of another, I reckon. Why else do we have so much turmoil?

Akrasia

Brad Wesley wrote: »

I am starting to write a book about how to lead a successful revolution based on historys successes and failures.
Has anybody got any opinions on whether it would it would be a good idea or not. I need to improve my spelling.

Before I give you my guaranteed revolutionary formula, I'll need to know if you're using it for good or for evil.

What kind of revolution?

SameDifference

Brad Wesley wrote: »

I am starting to write a book about how to lead a successful revolution based on historys successes and failures.
Has anybody got any opinions on whether it would it would be a good idea or not. I need to improve my spelling.

Sounds great. You should call it Revolution DIY.


I could do with a copy. I lead a diaspora Irish Nationalist group in the UK.

turgon

I would argue there is no set way to start a revolution. All of the revolution's in our history were based in repressed societies ex Germany Italy after WWI, Cuba, Vietnam, Russia in 1917.

So you would have to devote a huge section of the book describing how to first destroy the country to bits, both politically and economically, and then take advantage of that weakness

Dont think it will work

The other option would be just to publish recipies for petrol bombs and the like

Akrasia

a revolution requires class consciousness. The french revolution (perhaps the most successful revolution of all time) wasn't born out of the ashes of a particularly oppressed people (the french peasants were no more oppressed than their spanish neighbours or the english across the pond)
It takes an enlightened people to have a successful revolution, not a desperate people.

The spanish tried it in 1936 and made a good go at it only to be over-run from two fronts, imperialists on the front, and stalinists on the rear. (with the church in the middle and their hoards of zombie soldiers)

The Irish revolution started off as a noble cause to bring equality and freedom from domination, it was defeated by the forces of fear and greed who sold out the true revolutionaries for a slice of a pie and a return to slavery

Belfast_Hibby

Hi Brad, what about including this woman:

Dolores Ibarruri. She was a Basque Republican and Communist who was involved in the fight against fascism and oppression during the Spanish revolution. She also coined the phrase "Mas vale morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillos" (it is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees).

Here's a copy of her speech at the battle of Madrid:

Workers! Farmers! Anti-fascists! Spanish Patriots! Confronted with the fascist military uprising, all must rise to their feet, to defend the Republic, to defend the people's freedoms as well as their achievements towards democracy!

Through the statements by the government and the Popular Front (parties), the people understand the graveness of the moment. In Morroco, as well as in the Canary Islands, the workers are battling, united with the forces still loyal to the Republic, against the uprising militants and fascists.

Under the battlecry 'Fascism shall not pass; the hangmen of October shall not pass!' workers and farmers from all Spanish provinces are joining in the struggle against the enemies of the Republic that have arisen in arms. Communists, Socialists, Anarchists and Republican Democrats, soldiers and (other) forces remaining loyal to the Republic combined have inflicted the first defeats upon the fascist foe, who drag through the mud the very same honourable military tradition that they have boasted to possess so many times. The whole country cringes in indignation at these heartless barbarians that would hurl our democratic Spain back down into an abyss of terror and death. However, THEY SHALL NOT PASS! For all of Spain presents itself for battle. In Madrid, the people are out in the streets in support of the Government and encouraging its decision and fighting spirit so that it shall reach its conclusion in the smashing of the militant and fascist insurrection.

Young men, prepare for combat! Women, heroic women of the people! Recall the heroism of the women of Asturias of 1934 and struggle alongside the men in order to defend the lives and freedom of your sons, overshadowed by the fascist menace!

Soldiers, sons of the nation! Stay true to the Republican State and fight side by side with the workers, with the forces of the Popular Front, with your parents, your siblings and comrades! Fight for the Spain of February the 16th, fight for the Republic and help them to victory! Workers of all stripes! The government supplies us with arms that we may save Spain and its people from the horror and shame that a victory for the bloody hangmen of October would mean.

Let no one hesitate! All stand ready for action. All workers, all antifascists must now look upon each other as brothers in arms.

Peoples of Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia! All Spaniards! Defend our democratic Republic and consolidate the victory achieved by our people on the 16th of February.

The Communist Party calls you to arms. We especially call upon you, workers, farmers, intellectuals to assume your positions in the fight to finally smash the enemies of the Republic and of the popular liberties. Long live the Popular Front! Long live the union of all anti-fascists! Long live the Republic of the people! The Fascists shall not pass! THEY SHALL NOT PASS!

I like her

Black hole sun

Belfast_Hibby wrote: »

Hi Brad, what about including this woman:

Dolores Ibarruri. She was a Basque Republican and Communist who was involved in the fight against fascism and oppression during the Spanish revolution. She also coined the phrase "Mas vale morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillos" (it is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees).

It was actually Jose Martí who first said it and she didnt live up to it seeing she fled to the USSR following the end of the war:)

EamonnKeane

Should definitely put in a section on the Iranian Revolution (1979). From Wikipedia:

The revolution was unique for the surprise it created throughout the world: it lacked many of the customary causes of revolution — defeat at war, a financial crisis, peasant rebellion, or disgruntled military; produced profound change at great speed; overthrew a regime thought to be heavily protected by a lavishly financed army and security services; and replaced an ancient monarchy with a theocracy based on Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists (or velayat-e faqih). Its outcome, an Islamic Republic "under the guidance of an 80-year-old exiled religious scholar from Qom," was, as one scholar put it, "clearly an occurrence that had to be explained.…"

AngryHippie

explanation of Iran not really as complex as that, See "We are Iran" by Nasrin Alavi to get small specifics, It'll also lead to Iranian blogs that give a really good insight into the internal pressures on society in the country, for the historical and political context, Bob Fisk's "The Great War For Civilization" gives most of the nitty gritty. The US dickin around in the region and the USSR's menacing presence led to a popular movement towards a power base that was uncorrupted by either. As it happened that was the scholars of Qom. A very interesting period of time, but I wouldn't even attempt to document it without a substantial period of time in the country researching it, and I definitely wouldn't include it in a revolutionary's handbook, because the one that happened was more of a result of the two that didnt happen........ :eek:

Belfast

Che Guevara Guerrilla warfare: A method
http://www.marxists.org/archive/guevara/1963/09/guerrilla-warfare.htm

Belfast

Ron Paul Revolution: History in the Making
http://books.google.ie/books?id=udryGmS8sY0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=ron+paul&sig=GTPH4BUlmXgBxHI_7zw12fU6-tI#PPA3,M1

Belfast

This contrasts the successful American revolution to the failure of the French revolution.

A Tale of Two Revolutions

by Robert A. Peterson
http://www.theadvocates.org/freeman/8908pete.html

You have not stated the aim of your revolution or what you want to revolt againts ?

Belfast

These books are based on the ideal of a libertarian Revolution

Great books on liberty
http://www.libertystory.net/LSBOOKSMENU.htm

Hayek, F. A. The Road to Serfdom
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/hfs.cgi/00/206047.ctl

Ten Steps to World Libertarian Revolution
http://wlo418.tripod.com/worldlibertarianorder/id19.html

World Libertarian Order
Libertarianism, Anarcho-Capitalism, Objectivism, Laissez-Faire Economics, Evolutionary Destiny, Worldwide Prosperity and Peace

There can be no peace without prosperity, and in turn, no prosperity without Liberty. We must first establish free enterprise everywhere on Earth. Prosperity and peace will then follow as naturally as day follows night.
http://wlo418.tripod.com/worldlibertarianorder/

Belfast

One of the problems with modern revolution while some have been initial successful they all have failed to archive their long-term aims.
The problem is how to maintain the aims of the revolution in the longer term.
The American Revolution that started as a Libertarian revolution and was initially successful with the election of Abraham Lincoln it lost its Libertarian character and with president like Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt Richard Nixon etc. have continued this term with more and more loss of economic and personal liberty.


The Russian Revolution was intended to become the dictatorship of the proletariat and the soviets (councils) with democracy within the Communist party, but became a dictatorship of the Bureaucracy and the Leader after Stalin came to power. It ultimate collapsed due to poor economic failure.

Belfast

http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Revolution

http://www.starttherevolution.org/

http://www.ehow.com/how_2146224_start-revolution.html

Vladimir Lenin: how to organise for a successful revolution
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=2174


This shows how the neo-cons took power in america.
The Right Nation :Why America Is Different:John Micklethwait (Author), Adrian Wooldridge
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Right-Nation-John-Micklethwait/dp/0713997389