this post was submitted on 13 Jun 2025
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is there a definitive definition of "revolution" you follow and how do you differentiate it from the standard coup? when does a coup become a revolution?

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[–] Pili@hexbear.net 16 points 6 months ago (3 children)

As far as I know, a coup is when a government is overthrown by its military. A revolution is when the people replaces the ruling class by another one.

[–] Le_Wokisme@hexbear.net 8 points 6 months ago

there are lots of kinds of non-military coups. judicial coups, self-coups, the business plot, some kinds of election fraud...

[–] Redcuban1959@hexbear.net 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Theres also Self-Coups (Peru 1992), Legislative Coups (Brazil 2016) and that time the US Supreme Court decided that Bush won the election. I think Revolutions usually start within the civilian population and the military and police joins in as the goverment begins to fall. Coups are more organized.

[–] Lisitsyn@hexbear.net 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

most revolutions have had some form of military or paramilitary participation. it usually isnt just a spontaneous uprising

[–] newacctidk@hexbear.net 2 points 6 months ago

Yes but involvement in this case would be distinct from the military acting primarily on its own, and as an institution. For instance the soldiers who sided with the Bolsheviks did so as defectors, or as already having been arrested for treason

[–] 9to5@hexbear.net 9 points 6 months ago

When the credits start rolling

[–] Meltyheartlove@hexbear.net 7 points 6 months ago

When you start seeing posters of beanis everywhere in the country

[–] Le_Wokisme@hexbear.net 7 points 6 months ago

when it forms a stable emulsion

[–] ChaosMaterialist@hexbear.net 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

It's useful to think of *Revolution" as it's used in Scientific Revolution and Industrial Revolution; a complete restructuring of how both society and individuals identify and organize themselves. The bang bang part of Revolution's colloquial meaning comes from the violent counter-revolution.

A (traditional) Coup d'etat is the forceful takeover of the leadership of an existing state apparatus.

Neither of these are exclusive. ML theory, for example, advocates for the takeover of the state apparatus as a key method for bringing about and guarding the social revolution.

[–] FunkyStuff@hexbear.net 6 points 6 months ago

I'd say if it has popular support and the new leadership is substantially changing the status quo, especially with regards to the ancien regime's real power (e.g. cancelling debt, land reform, democratization, other significant reforms that take power away from the previous ruling class) then it is a revolution.

[–] WizardOfLoneliness@hexbear.net 3 points 6 months ago

A coup becomes a revolution when the change in government is paired with a change in ideological outcomes for that government