January 18-24

Introduction to revolutions. Discussion of DeFronzo, Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements, Introduction, Chapter1, and Catalysts for Change: Exploration, War, and Revolution (part on Revolution)

Study Guide for Week of January 18

View Catalysts for Change: Exploration, War, and Revolution (part on Revolution: segments 1, 4 – 8, 10, 12, 14). This can be found in the Munday Library database, Films on Demand. Be able to answer the questions on this study guide about this documentary.

Read De Fronzo, Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements, 1-26 (Introduction and Chapter 1).

As you are viewing and reading, write out informal answers to the questions below. These should be answered for your use as they will help you to answer the online questions, and will assist you with your learning, as well as with your research paper. Try to understand this as you go along, as one week’s assignments builds on the one before it. Each student will be assigned specific questions from the study guide to answer on the discussion board to which to post answers by Wednesday January 21st @ midnight. 

By Saturday, January 24th @ noon, comment on one or more of the responses of classmates.  Comments about a classmate’s post should be substantive; they should provide constructive criticism or explain agreement, and should be several sentences long. There is no non-verbal communication or body language over the Internet; treat fellow students as you would like to be treated. Comments to another classmate posted late cannot receive credit, since ordinarily classmates will not check the discussion forum after the deadline.

Estimated time: reading-4 hrs., viewing documentary and taking notes – 1.5 hrs,  Answering questions, and reading and posting comments- 2.5 hours.  Total: (8 hrs.)

Study Guide Questions:

Catalysts for Change: Exploration, War, and Revolution (part on Revolution):

  1. How does this documentary define revolution? What is a “political revolution?”
  2. How was democracy defined in ancient Greece?
  3. What triggers revolution?
  4. Explain Jack Goldstone’s statement “Actually, the outcome of the revolution is a mixed bag” (See segment 14).
  5. Analyze how communications technology has changed the “development of revolutions.” How did communication technology affect the 2011 Arab spring revolts?
  6. Examine how globalization and democracy have affected revolutions.

De Fronzo:

  1. Define “revolutionary movement.” Compare and contrast DeFronzo’s definition with the definition in the documentary.
  2. Compare and contrast revolutionary movements with social movements/reform movements.
  3. Describe and analyze the “five factors” that DeFronzo thinks are critical to the success of a revolutionary movement.
  4. How does the factor “Permissive World Context” relate to globalization?
  5. Compare and contrast Marxist theory, “systems theory,” and modernization theory. What weaknesses does DeFronzo say these theories have?
  6. According to DeFronzo, what phases of revolution can be found in “natural history of revolution accounts”?
  7. What role does nationalism play in revolutions?

MLA  Students:

In addition to the reading and viewing the documentary as the undergraduates, please read Goldstone, 1-20, 45-53. Post answers to one question from the documentary,  and DeFronzo #5 or #6 on the Study Guide. Also, in about 250, compare and contrast DeFronzo’s ideas in his introduction with Goldstone’s ideas in his introduction; and post this.

Additional reading time for graduate students-(2hrs)