DeepSummary
This episode discusses the phenomenon of a revolutionary government using violence and repression against its own people, even those who initially supported the revolution. Mike Duncan explains the concept of a 'reign of terror', where radical factions seize control and ruthlessly eliminate perceived enemies, as well as 'bloody weeks', where moderate factions violently suppress more radical elements.
The episode explores the reasons behind such violence, including winning wars, economic mobilization, eliminating political rivals, establishing sovereignty, and ideological motivations. It also examines who typically becomes victims of this violence - from rival revolutionary leaders to common people caught in the crossfire.
While reigns of terror and bloody weeks differ in their specifics, they represent the same moment in a revolution where the new regime uses state power to consolidate control through violence against its own population, effectively 'devouring its children' - the very people who helped bring about the revolution.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Revolutionary governments, whether led by radicals or moderates, often use brutal violence and repression against their own people to consolidate power.
- The reasons for this violence include winning wars, economic control, eliminating political rivals, establishing sovereignty, and ideological motivations.
- The victims are not just aristocrats and elites, but also rival revolutionary leaders, foreigners, and countless ordinary people.
- While 'reigns of terror' and 'bloody weeks' differ in leadership and methods, they represent the same violent suppression by the new regime.
- This violence marks the transition from revolutionary chaos to the establishment of a new order and regime authority.
- The mechanisms include revolutionary tribunals, mass arrests, martial law, and summary executions, often with legal pretexts.
- Most revolutions seem to go through this violent phase of 'devouring their children' who helped create them.
- The scale of victims ranges from famous figures to multitudes of anonymous commoners.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Carrying out a vast project of political violence is a team effort.“ by Mike Duncan
- “The first wave of the revolution broke the ancien regime's claim. But eventually, the post revolutionary chaos is going to have to give way to something resembling a new order.“ by Mike Duncan
- “Revolutions are very dicey times for even the most apolitical of expatriates.“ by Mike Duncan
- “For every execution of a famous celebrity historical figure, there are hundreds or thousands of executions of unknown commoners.“ by Mike Duncan
- “So we have reached the phase when our revolution begins to devour its children.“ by Mike Duncan
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Episode Information
Revolutions
Mike Duncan
12/5/22
Somebody is getting eaten. Just depends who.