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A Few Facts Regarding Collective Rebellion

1. Tilly (1969) concludes that "historically, collective violence has flowed regularly out of the central political processes of Western countries. Men seeking to seize, hold, or realign the levers of power have continually engaged in collective violence as a part of their struggle. The oppressed have struck in the name of justice, the privileged in the name of order, and those in between in the name of fear."

2. In an analysis of political violence in the US, Levy (1969) found no clear chronological trends. For instance, the greatest amount of political violence occurred between 1879 and 1889. However, only a moderate degree of political violence transpired in the following decade. Similarly, the 1940's and 1950's had low rates, and the 1960's relatively high rates of political violence.

3. Some people believe that prolonged severe hardship is the triggering factor in revolutions. On the other hand, Davies (1962, 1969) contends that the precipitating factor in revolutions is a sudden decline in the status of an underprivileged group following a time of steadily increasing status. The earlier improvements in status creates expectations of continued improvements. Then the unanticipated decline in well-being creates a revolutionary gap between expectations and one's current state and collective violence is more likely to occur.
 
 

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