1. Promoting Revolutionary Internationalism and Affecting the Global Community

2. Revolutionary Internationalism
The word Revolution usually suggests a radical turnaround, often a violent one. Many argue over what conditions is revolution acceptable in the world today? In response to an unresponsive government? Do people in foreign countries have the right to encourage a revolution in another country? Can promoting a revolution be a legitimate obligation of internationalism and the global civil society?
The Russian Revolution

3. What to Know Before You Support a Revolution
Why are the revolutionary group(s) fighting against the established government?
What are the revolutionary group(s) fighting for?
Are the ills the country is facing being caused solely by the established government, or are there other factors in place?
Is revolution the only means of bringing change, or is there an alternative?

4. The Orange Revolution (2004-2005)
The Orange Revolution occurred in Ukraine and it was a series of events using civil disobedience, general strikes, and protests to force a re-election after accusations came to light of massive corruption, voter fraud, and intimidation. The revolution was supported by IGOs and INGOs like US AID, National Democratic Institute, Freedom House, Open Society Institute, and the National Endowment for Democracy.
NBC Flashback: The Orange Revolution

5. The Rose Revolution in Georgia
In November 2003, a revolution took place in Georgia in which tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to protest against the flawed results of a parliamentary election. The demonstrators demanded the resignation of Eduard Shevardnadze, a man who had ruled Georgia for more than 30 years in total, as its Soviet-era Communist Party boss and its longest-serving post-independence president. Mr Shevardnadze told protesters they risked causing a civil war and he deployed hundreds of soldiers on the streets of Tbilisi. At that point, student demonstrators decided to give red roses to the soldiers. Many soldiers laid down their guns.
The Rose Revolution

6. The Blue Revolution in Kuwait
Kuwait gained its independence from the Britain in 1961, and with new found freedom the women of Kuwait took the opportunity to seek further liberation. Starting in 1961 the women in Kuwait began protesting the oppressive policies of the Kuwait government, such as burning their robes to protest against the notion of “appropriate” female dress. Between 2002 and 2005 the Blue Revolution occurred, in which after a series of non- violent protests and strikes, the women of Kuwait received the right to vote and run for office on May

7. The Purple Revolution in Iraq
Following the removal of the Hussein government from power by the US military, Iraq held its first free election in more than 50 years on January Many Iraqi citizens though disputed the legitimacy of these elections, arguing that the election was being used by the US government to support the changes they wanted to instill in the country. Many groups boycotted the elections due to this reason and due to the threat of violence they feared they would face.

8. The Bulldozer Revolution in Serbia
In 2000 the people of Serbia, after a series of non-violent protests and strikes, were able to peacefully force their president Slobodan Milosevic to give up his presidency. The people of Serbia decided Milosevic was not suitable to be president after he led the country into several wars with Croatia and Bosnia and isolated it internationally. While he spent money on the country’s secret police and military, unemployment reached as high as 50 percent before 1996.
Revolution School

9. The Cedar Revolution in Lebanon
In 2005, following the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, anti-Syrian groups (Syria had been persecuting Lebanese leaders for quite some time) led a series of peaceful protests against the pro-Syrian government, which eventually forced the withdrawal all Syrian forces from Lebanon (caused by both the protests and international pressures) by the end of 2005.
The Cedar Revolution

10. The Colour Revolution
The term “colour revolution” has been used in media to describe the series of non- violent revolutions that have taken place in several societies around the world, especially in countries that were formerly controlled by the Soviet Union, the Balkans, and the Middle East. These protests are often symbolized by a colour, they involve non-violent protests against a corrupt and/or authoritarian government, they advocate for democracy, and the protests are used to pressure the government to change or resign. The importance of IGOs and INGOs is emphasized by these revolutions.

11. The Arab Spring or the Democracy Spring
The Arab or Democracy Spring was a revolutionary wave of both violent and nonviolent demonstrations, protests, riots, coups, and civil wars that began in The Spring is believed to have started in Tunisia with the Tunisian Revolution and then spread through the countries of the Arab League. The Arab Spring is widely believed to have been instigated by dissatisfaction, particularly of youth and unions, with the rule of local governments, though some have speculated that wide gaps in income levels and pressures caused by the Great Recession may have had a hand as well. Other sources confirm the US government's support of the uprisings, funded largely by the National Endowment for Democracy.
Arab Spring Protests

12. The Second American Revolution?
The are several groups in the United States, most noteable the Oath Keepers, who believe that the US government is totally corrupt and only works for the top 1% of the country, often citing the bailing out of Wall Street and the tax breaks given to the wealthy. These groups believe that the US government is becoming more corrupt and tyrannical everyday, and they are preparing for possible uprising.
Vice News: America’s 2nd Revolutionary War

13. Affecting the Global Community
Have you ever wondered what happens to the financial support you give to a cause? Does all of it go to support the cause, or does none of it? What may be the inadvertent effects of our actions?
Global organizations are designed to act within the global village and try to make a difference. What we can never predict, though, is how those actions will play out.

14. The European Union
In May 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schumann (Father of Europe) proposed that European countries share resources in a bid to eliminate friction and build co-operative and peaceful relationships in Europe. By 1951, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was created to pool the coal and steel resources of its member nations and began the process of uniting Europe.

15. The European Union
Over time the ECSC led to the creation of other organizations like the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community, which worked to strengthen the common market among the member nations and to promote peace and cooperation among member nations. As more nations joined these organizations the organizations formed into one supranational entity that has become actively involved in international issues.
History of the European Union

16. The European Union
The EU is an example of an international organization that evolved over time to meet the needs of its member nations. The EU often acts in ways like a united sovereign nation, and in time it may become one. The actions of the EU often affect the entire global community, as it has become one of the most powerful political and economic organization in the world.

17. International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF)
The OIF is a cultural and linguistic community of more than 220 million people who use French to varying degrees in their daily lives. The OIF has 80 member states and governments (57 members and 23 observers), representing ⅓ of the UN’s member states, including Canada, Quebec, and New Brunswick. French is the official language of Quebec, and New Brunswick is the only true bilingual province in Canada.
Overview of the OIF

18. 4 Major Components of the OIF
University Agency of La Francophonie (AUF): headquarters are in Montreal and its focus is on promoting higher education for Francophone students and the development of scientific research in the French community.
Senghor University, Alexandria: promotes health and nutrition for French- speaking peoples in Africa
TV5: French-language television that reaches over 200 nations and million French-speaking peoples
International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF): designed to support Francophone communities around the world in dealing with management issues, municipal infrastructure, promoting culture and heritage, health issues, and emergency situations.

19. Reflection Questions
Under what circumstances do you think revolution, either violent or nonviolent, is acceptable in the world today?
Do you think it is acceptable for people in foreign countries to support revolutions in other countries? Why or why not?
What do you think are some benefits and drawback of being part of the European Union?
Do you think the OIF, an organization based primarily on a common language, can meet the needs of so many diverse cultures?