1. REVOLUTION: WHY THEN AND NOT NOW?

2. WHAT IS A REVOLUTION?
“an extralegal seizure of political power, by the use or threat of force, for the purpose of bringing about structural change in the distribution of political, social, or economic power”
not the same as routine barracks revolts or golpes de estado

3. WHY THEN (1950s-70s)? Authoritarian regimes Socioeconomic inequality
Personalist, corrupt
Military repression
No real elections
Socioeconomic inequality
Communication and awareness
Cityward migration, social mobilization
Marxist ideology
Call for revolution
Soviet + Chinese support
Example of Cuba (1959)

4. AND NOW…? (1980s-2000s) Political democracy Socioeconomic development
Dissent through elections
Opposition victories
Emergence of “new left”
Socioeconomic development
Middle-class aspirations + conservative values
Prosperity (of sorts) since 2004
Liberal ideology
Rejection of Marxism
“End of history”
Example of Cuba (1990s-present)