You Say You Want a Revolution: Radical Idealism and Its Tragic Consequences

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Why most modern revolutions have ended in bloodshed and failure-and what lessons they hold for today's world of growing extremism Why have so many of the iconic revolutions of modern times ended in bloody tragedies And what lessons can be drawn from these failures today, in a world where political extremism is on the rise and rational reform ba

Reviews

"Historically dense, intelligently organized, and deeply analytical, You Say You Want a Revolution offers a great deal to a wide array of audiences. . . . This books cheeky title is at once a warning and a lament: those who foment discord as a vehicle for change very often find themselves in a situation more dire than the status quo ante, and the idealism inherent in such movements is exposed as a mirage." * Choice *
"This is an essential book."---Steven Simon, Survival: Global Politics and Strategy
"For those seeking a quick, sharply written survey of how revolutions have so often brought violence, corruption, and authoritarian rule, Chirot has provided a clear and valuable book."---Jack Goldstone, Social Forces

Author Bio

Daniel Chirot is the Herbert J. Ellison Professor of Russian and Eurasian Studies at the Henry Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington. He is the author of many books, most recently, The Shape of the New: Four Big Ideas and How They Made the Modern World (with Scott L. Montgomery) (Princeton), which was named one of the New York Times Book Review's 100 Notable Books of the Year.