Revolution, Rebellion, Resistance

Why do revolutions happen? Decades of social science research have brought us little closer to understanding where, when, and among whom they occur. In this ground-breaking book, Eric Selbin argues that we need to look beyond the economic, political, and social structural conditions to the thoughts and feelings of the people who make revolutions. In particular, he argues, we need to understand the stories people relay and rework of past injustices as they struggle in the present toward a better future. Ranging from the French Revolution to the Battle for Seattle, via Russia, China, Cuba, Vietnam, and Nicaragua, Revolution, Rebellion, Resistance makes the case that it is myth, memory, and mimesis which create, maintain, and extend such stories.