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Is Revolution Individually Rational?

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  • JACK A. GOLDSTONE

    (Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences and University of California, Davis)

Abstract

An examination of the free rider problem in revolutionary action suggests that this problem can be, and historically has been, overcome by drawing on norms of solidarity developed in preexisting groups, which gain individuals' commitment by providing commonly needed public goods. A simple model of rational action by groups, based on considerations of individual solidarity and cross-group interactions, then predicts many of the well-known macrofeatures of revolutions in different kinds of societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Jack A. Goldstone, 1994. "Is Revolution Individually Rational?," Rationality and Society, , vol. 6(1), pages 139-166, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ratsoc:v:6:y:1994:i:1:p:139-166
    DOI: 10.1177/1043463194006001008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Berejikian, Jeffrey, 1992. "Revolutionary Collective Action and the Agent-Structure Problem," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 86(3), pages 647-657, September.
    2. Gordon Tullock, 1971. "The paradox of revolution," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 89-99, September.
    3. Jeff Goodwin & Theda Skocpol, 1989. "Explaining Revolutions in the Contemporary Third World," Politics & Society, , vol. 17(4), pages 489-509, December.
    4. Finkel, Steven E. & Muller, Edward N. & Opp, Karl-Dieter, 1989. "Personal Influence, Collective Rationality, and Mass Political Action," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 83(3), pages 885-903, September.
    5. Siegwart Lindenberg, 1989. "Social Production Functions, Deficits, and Social Revolutions," Rationality and Society, , vol. 1(1), pages 51-77, July.
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    Cited by:

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