Revolutions (Studies in Comparative Social Science) - Softcover

Sanderson, Stephen K.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1594517053 ISBN 13: 9781594517051

Publisher: Routledge, 2010

Synopsis

This expanded, updated edition of Revolutions offers a new chapter on terrorism and on social movements, including jihadism. Revolutions and state breakdowns are the primary focus as Sanderson presents prominent theories and describes the process of revolutions. The book covers famous revolutions from history (France, Russia, China) and several social and political revolutions in the Third World (Cuba, Nicaragua, Iran, and the Philippines). Given the frequency of revolutionary movements, a key question addressed by the book is 'Why are actual revolutions so rare?' Sanderson also assesses the state breakdowns in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union after 1989, the typical outcomes of revolutions, and the future of revolutions. An appendix presents biographical and autobiographical sketches of several of the most prominent scholars of revolutions.

About this title

About the Author:

Stephen K. Sanderson is currently a visiting professor of sociology at the University of California, Riverside, where he specializes in comparative-historical sociology, sociological theory, and evolutionary sociology. He is the author or editor of ten books in sixteen editions, among them Evolutionism and Its Critics: Deconstructing and Reconstructing an Evolutionary Interpretation of Human Society (Paradigm, 2007) and Revolutions: A Worldwide Introduction to Social and Political Contention (2nd ed., Paradigm, 2010).

Review:

“Sanderson does a credible job of detailing the major aspects of the topic of revolution. ... well worth reading. Recommended.”
―CHOICE

"Those looking for a guide to revolutions will find everything they need here: from the history of great events, to theories of revolutionary change, to current and future prospects for revolution and terrorism, Sanderson's book is the most complete guide available to students of revolution today."
―Jack A. Goldstone, George Mason University

"Stephen Sanderson has written a smart and clear introduction to revolutions-and to recent scholarship on them. This new edition includes an equally sharp and pellucid chapter on terrorism. Readers new to these topics will find this an especially helpful book."
―Jeffrey Goodwin, New York University

"Stephen Sanderson's book has already garnered much praise and won a wide readership. This new edition, with a valuable new chapter on terrorism, can only add to that acclain and influence."
―Krishan Kumar, University of Virginia

Praise for the Previous Edition:

“Informative and thought-provoking ... encompasses all the major revolutions of our time. ... A useful introduction for students.”
―Misagh Parsa in Contemporary Sociology

“A very readable introduction to the literature and accessible to undergraduate students. The book also introduces students to some important book-length studies and students of social and political revolutions.”
―Canadian Journal of Sociology

“Erudite yet accessible ... this broad introduction to the topic will be useful for students new to the area.”
―CHOICE

Previous Adopters of the Text Say:

"It is useful, theoretically erudite and accessible to freshmen. The biographies of leading sociologists of revolution provide a rare insight into who the men and women are behind our theories and why they invented them."
―Georgi Derlugian, Northwestern University

"This book is an excellent gateway for students to begin thinking critically about the conceptual underpinnings, history, and causes of revolution. I have used it with success for years."
―David L. Richards, University of Memphis, Co-Director, The CIRI Human Rights Data Project

"I enjoyed this book's connection between several theoretical frameworks to analyze revolutions and the case studies presented in the text."
―Jose Soltero, DePaul University

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1594517053
• ISBN 13: 9781594517051
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 290