The anatomy of revolution · Crane Brinton
L. P. Edwards, The Natural History of Revolutions. Chicago, 1927.
Chapter 8 of 9 · 1 min read
Unpretentious, suggestive, tentative. One of the best introductions to the subject available in English. Mr. Edwards does not pretend to do more than sketch the essential problems and indicate possible further work. Admirably free from special pleading.
T. Geiger, Die Masse und ihre Aktion: Ein Beitrag zur Soziologie der Revolutionen. Stuttgart, 1926. A psychological study, with a Marxist tinge. To a non-German, a bit in the clouds.
H. M. Hyndman, The Evolution of Revolution. London, 1927. By one of the pioneers of Marxist Socialism in England. Not very illuminating nowadays.
G. Lebon, The Psychology of Revolution. English translation. New York, 1913. Lebon’s reputation as a social psychologist has sunk considerably. This is the work of a frightened anti-intellectualist.
Arthur Liebert, Vom Geist der Revolutionen. Berlin, 1919. A brief discussion of the rational and emotional origins of revolution, and an analysis of the crisis period.
Leon de Poncius, Les forces secrètes de la révolution. Paris, 1929. A good example of the kind of writing which attributes modern revolutions to wicked conspirators—in this case Jews and freemasons. For those who do not read French, the works of Mrs. Nesta Webster may be recommended as an adequate sample of this approach. See especially her Secret Societies and Subversive Movements, London, 1924, and The French Revolution: A Study in Democracy. New York, 1920.
