Revolutions always bring dramatic changes to societies. Some argue that these “explosions” often cause numerous victims and considerable destruction, but, at the same time, they often lead to negative changes in the country. However, my claim is that any revolution brings what people need, i.e. changes, which are often only first steps in reaching peoples’ aims to build a strong society.
I believe that revolutions are inevitable cornerstones which help societies develop. It goes without saying that I am against any type of violence and I’d rather support peaceful revolutions, but sometimes violence is unavoidable. It is possible to support my claim considering two examples: two revolutions which took place in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
When reading about revolutions which took place in the seventeenth or eighteenth century I understood that these were the best ways for people to obtain equal rights and equal opportunities. Nonetheless, it is obvious that even now in many countries people have to live in unbearable conditions.
When reading newspaper articles and watching news on TV it becomes clear that revolutions are taking place and will happen in future, because revolution is still the only way to fight for peoples’ rights. Fortunately, I live in a country where people enjoy all the necessary rights and have many opportunities, but there is still much to improve. Thus, I understand that it is essential to struggle for worthy living conditions.
I would like to consider revolutions which took place in Cuba (in 1940-1950s) and in Egypt (in 2011). Cuban revolution is one of those “explosions” which led to many negative outcomes. People who fought for freedom did not achieve their aim since people of Cuba have been deprived from many rights.
Nevertheless, the state obtained sovereignty and corruption in government was defeated. Therefore, this example shows that even though not all (in fact, few) goals of the nation were achieved, many positive changes took place in the society which obtained the necessary experience and can proceed its fight for freedom and opportunities.
As far as Cuban revolution is concerned I believe the works by Whitney (2001) and Pedraza (2007) will be helpful since these books provide a thorough analysis of premises and outcomes of the revolution.
Another example of a revolution which is a positive change is revolution in Egypt. Notably, it did not cause too many victims as compared to many other revolutions (it is often referred to as peaceful revolution). However, the revolution still left several “scars”. Nonetheless, it led to many positive changes since Egyptians can now influence their country’s development.
People obtained many rights and it is now in their hands to build a new country or waste their chance. I think that articles by (Kirkpatrick and El-Naggar, 2011), Mekay (2011) and The New York Times article “Egypt News – Revolution and Aftermath” (2011) will be helpful for the present research since they reveal the changes which took place in Egypt after the revolution.
I believe I will prove my claim that revolutions, though causing deaths and destruction, always lead to positive changes in the society. More so, I hope to prove that any revolution is an inevitable stage in any country’s history. I believe that any nation inevitably comes to the point when there are two opposing views of the state’s development and no consensus can be achieved due to many circumstances. Therefore, such a potent explosion as a revolution is a breakthrough which helps societies develop.
Reference List
Egypt News — Revolution and Aftermath. (2011). The New York Times. Web.
Kirkpatrick, D.D., & El-Naggar, M. (2011). Poll Finds Egyptians Full of Hope About the Future. The New York Times, p. A4.
Mekay, E. (2011). Egypt Tries to Turn Corner After Long Road of Crop Neglect. The New York Times. Web.
Pedraza, S. (2007). Political Disaffection in Cuba’s Revolution and Exodus. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Whitney, R. W. (2001). State and Revolution in Cuba: Mass Mobilization and Political Change, 1920-1940. Chapel Hill: UNC Press Books.