Revolutions – Appendix 10- The Revolution Devours Its Children

Intro

In this episode of the “Revolutions” podcast, titled “Appendix 10 – The Revolution Devours Its Children,” host Mike Duncan explores the phenomenon of revolutions turning against their own people. He delves into the reign of terror and bloody weeks, two types of top-down revolutionary violence, and discusses the reasons behind the violence. Duncan also highlights the victims of these violent periods and the impact they had on the course of the revolution.

Main Takeaways

The Revolution Devours Its Children

• The second wave of the revolution is now controlled by a small group of radical fanatics who have embarked on a reign of terror to purge the enemies of the revolution.
• The radical click in charge of the government is inevitably composed of a tiny minority of the population, putting the vast majority at risk of being targeted as enemies of the revolution.
• Anyone deemed insufficiently enthusiastic about the radical program or with slightly different opinions could be targeted, including those who helped make the revolution in the first place.
• The leaders of the first wave, like the moderate recently overthrown in the second wave, are also at risk.
• This phase of the revolution is known as “the revolution devours its children.”

Types of Revolutionary Violence

• Most revolutions end with top-down violence by the revolutionary government.
• Two types of top-down revolutionary violence: reign of terror and bloody weeks.
• Reign of terror is when a radical faction uses the power of the state to carry out political violence.
• Bloody week is when a revolutionary government, successfully defended by moderates, uses state power to carry out violence against defeated radicals.
• Both types involve top-down state violence against its own people to defend political power.

The Logic and Justification of Violence

• Violence happens when revolutionary leaders are exhausted, stressed, and afraid of their rivals winning.
• Reigns of terror and bloody weeks are perpetrated by radicals and moderates respectively.
• Reigns of terror have their own ideological logic outside of immediate threats to the radicals’ power, and are about starting a new society by destroying everything old.
• Violence is justified by leaders as a vital response to the exigencies of war and economic mobilization.
• Victims of revolutionary violence come from various social classes, including rival political factions, foreigners, and the lower classes.

The Mechanisms and Targets of Violence

• Reigns of terror involve multiple categories such as winning the war, purging spies and saboteurs, creating a new society, achieving political purity, and defending the revolution.
• Victims of the reign of terror include those who undermine economic mobilization, rival political factions, and anyone challenging the radicals’ sovereignty.
• Bloody weeks target politically radical individuals from the lower classes who try to move the revolution beyond the center.
• Mechanisms for a reign of terror usually involve revolutionary tribunals, while the bloody week maintains the appearance of legality.

Summary

The Revolution Devours Its Children

In this episode, Mike Duncan discusses the phenomenon of revolutions turning against their own people, known as “the revolution devours its children.” He explores how a small group of radical fanatics takes control of the revolution’s second wave and initiates a reign of terror to purge enemies and dissenters. This radical click, comprising a minority of the population, poses a risk to the majority, including those who helped initiate the revolution. Even leaders from the first wave are not safe from being targeted.

Types of Revolutionary Violence

Duncan explains the two types of top-down revolutionary violence: reign of terror and bloody weeks. A reign of terror occurs when a radical faction, using state power, carries out political violence to defend their ideology. On the other hand, a bloody week involves a revolutionary government, defended by moderates, using state power to suppress defeated radicals. Both types involve top-down state violence against their own people to maintain political power.

The Logic and Justification of Violence

Violence during revolutions often occurs when leaders are exhausted, stressed, and fearful of their rivals winning. Radicals and moderates perpetrate reigns of terror and bloody weeks, respectively. Reigns of terror have their own ideological logic, aiming to destroy the old society and establish a new one. Leaders justify violence as a response to the demands of war and economic mobilization. Victims of revolutionary violence come from various social classes, including rival factions, foreigners, and the lower classes.

The Mechanisms and Targets of Violence

Reigns of terror involve multiple categories, such as winning the war, purging spies, creating a new society, achieving political purity, and defending the revolution. Victims include those undermining economic mobilization, rival political factions, and anyone challenging the radicals’ sovereignty. In contrast, bloody weeks target politically radical individuals from the lower classes who attempt to move the revolution beyond the center. Mechanisms for a reign of terror often involve revolutionary tribunals, while the bloody week maintains a semblance of legality.

Conclusion

The phenomenon of the revolution devouring its children is a recurring theme in history. Revolutions, driven by radical ideologies, often lead to top-down violence against their own people. Whether through reigns of terror or bloody weeks, the revolutionary leaders resort to violence to maintain their power and defend their ideology. The victims of these violent periods come from various social classes, including rival factions, foreigners, and the lower classes. Understanding this dark aspect of revolutions helps shed light on the complexities and consequences of these transformative moments in history.