Reflective Log 1

From what I have read I daresay that the common cause of these revolutions is the economic background that is almost entirely the same. Both powerful countries faced financial crisis, they were on the verge of reaching bankruptcy status. Therefore, imposing massive taxation even over low classes so as to pay off the debts brought about people voicing their grievances as prices rose at enormous scales. From a political perspective there were some grievances aired as well due to the fact that the King had supreme and divine power. He has not spared even a thought for his people's complaints regarding the malnutrition and his inappropriate rule. During Charles I's personal rule?, there was massive taxation imposed such as: the failure of attending or receiving knighthood at his coronation ceremony or that of ship money tax, applied to those from inland English countries. In the meanwhile the implication in The Seven years war of France led its people more close to a financial ruin. The solution was a tax system that left the lower classes to shoulder such a heavy burden whilst the clergy and nobility were subjected to exemption. The French Revolution crippled the aristocracy power and brought about the elimination of privileges and their replacement with rights. The English Revolution had its own merits as well as Ireland, Scotland and England remained without a monarch. In the wake of victory, England was governed by Commonwealth of England until restoration, when Charles II in association with the Parliament led a parliamentary monarchy as form of government. Ordinary people took full advantage of the chaotic society's state of affairs and seized timber and some other resources on the sequestrated estates of the royalty and Church. The gentry was the revolutionary subject in England, hence there should be a righteous distinction between them and the bourgeoisie, because only by referring to the way in which they were endowed with rights, it can be said that the revolutionary party plays a crucial role in the understanding of the revolutions outcomes. The gentlemen were promoted only by virtue of their own merits, whilst the bourgeoisie-as a general rule were privileged with rights by birth, as if they were innate traits of this type of social layer. Moreover, the bourgeoisie were deprived of any political rights, while socially speaking they were privileged. They firstly asked for freedom from the monarchy evoking the natural right that should govern within a society, but after they craved for becoming nobles. Nonetheless, it should be mentioned the support for the Jacobin bourgeoisieinstrumental to the changes within the political framework-received from the peasant masses, as they were subordinated to them. Also crucial to mention is that the Cromwells leading was able to make the restoration of the big bourgeoisie and gentry almost impossible. They worked together for the common good of a society with democratic strictures well-implemented.

To conclude, I wholeheartedly believe that both revolutions left English and French societies with great accomplishments in the direction of a more democratic and rightful rule over them. Therefore, I consider that only by dint of revolutions was it possible to change the political framework within that period. Both worked towards setting a worth example of struggle in order for rendering a better intertwined societal and political life.

Reflective Log2

Even thought it is hardly to believe that the revolutionary movement in Japan was really a revolution, it should be carefully taken into consideration that practically the leadership was represented by the samurai-middle class. It is true that it has to be conceded that the merchants and the peasants did participate but merely physically, because they practically appeared that they do not have something to say. It was not a pure capitalist revolution but conversely nor had it been led by a communist leadership, the samurai class combined what once was defining an oligarchy society with practices and resources characteristic of a capitalism. Its prosperity within the field of economy is incredible because recovery can only be attributed to a regime that makes huge steps towards a democratic society. Taking into consideration that in Russia the working class was practically the leadership it is not enough, we should pay attention to the fact that those who seized the power The Bolshevik group was an advocate for the socialist type of a regime, that obviously did nothing but to guide the Russian society towards a more extremist than socialist one. The fact that the Bolsheviks promised that they did not strive too much to keep; it should be regarded as a pattern for a centred authority that is the only who governs spearing no thought to the peoples rights and problems. Nor the people did they voice any grievances in the direction of the democracy; they were more concerned with the mitigation of their sufferings from famine. The collective thought was more concerned with the individual economy they were not too much more open to the capitalist one. Moreover, the Russian peole was impelled to find their own solutions to their problems. Therefore, the revolution could not make important inroads into their poor economy. To conclude, the peoples flagging enthusiasm and ardent desire are instrumental in the implementation of their claims, and the ruling in the post-revolutionary era must be

representative for their aims, or at least the population should make the leadership come to their terms.

Reflective Log 3 Considering that the pattern of violence is one of the core aspects that define a revolution, it should be conceded that as time passed there were violent and non-violent revolutions. Conversely, it seems that the third world is more prone to wage violent riots than in its heyday. Consequently, previous revolutions did nothing to attenuate but to spur the thirst for achieving whatever aim by dint of violent practices. We should bear in mind that all over the world there was an aversion towards using violence, apart from many Muslim countries. In South America, people left an open gate for a democracy to be implemented. Elections played a tremendous role in the instauration of a democratic rule, as this pattern-election, is a landmark of democracy in certain circumstances (when it is an overall fair election). Martin Luther King's struggle for freedom in South America by dint of non-violence approach towards nations- is a modern one that nowadays seems to prevail among that states. Putting across the idea that fighting for their constitutional rights will make the whole world looks down upon as setting the pattern for modern freedom (Skrentny, 2002), made major changes within these states. A good example standing for the use of a non-violent approach was Trunman's administration that paid close attention towards halting discrimination and segregation in the District of Columbia (Skrentny, 2002). In Brazil, it is almost impossible to spot the moment when the dictatorship ceased and when the democracy started in there; that is possible due to the lack of any defeat or victory by means of the using of force-what a classical revolution would have implied. Some states such as Cuba are more prone to become democratic, as it is generally held that in former communist countries a democratic outcome is more likely to result. The Third World also had its own non-violence defender- Ghandi, but there was Fenonwho really sees willing coming true through violent lenses. It should be reckoned that the use of violent force is instrumental with a view to decolonisation and implementation your own regime. Fenons struggle for Algeria independence was possible by inciting anti-colonial movements, and nonetheless his writings were instrumental to the inspirations of other liberal movements, such as those of African Americans, Palestinian and others. However, sparing a thought for India, it is crucial to mention that not by means of violence was that possible for Indians to get freedom from Great Britain's colony. By means of non-violent measures such as the refusing of cooperation and civil disobedience, as well as a policy of resistance in front of the economy, did Gandhi

manage to render India freedom. When it comes down to the struggle for independence from colonialism-which is perceived as an outer threat, in general the use of violence will be more effective in having your rights respected. Algeria, Angola, Eritrea and some other African countries stand for the required need for violence in order to restore freedom. All in al, where there are external domination and threats, the independence from colonial rulings is possible in the most cases by means of violence, as it was for African countries. But when there is a general public predisposition towards implementing civil rights the pacifist movements can be a key to responding to their grievances.

Reflective Log 4

Considering the non-violence character of the Velvet and Coloured revolutions, it tends to be considered that most of the countries if not all emerged victorious from the colonialism that ruled over them so many years along. The aversion towards violence grew considerably among the ex-Soviet Union should be considered an important aspect that helps towards constructing a democratic regime. The Iranian revolution stands more for a contending struggle in acquiring a democratic status among western states. It is felt that in the long-run the consequences will be subscribed to an authoritarian rule. This is possible due t the fact that even thought there were considerable changes within social services, in reducing infant mortality, the increase of the literate civilians, there were still not important improvements in the economy. Hence, their national economy lacks the indicators reflective of a modern economy. The aim at reaching a more spiritual society within the morally respected confines of the Islamic culture, it can be perceived as a reason of why an authoritarian rule is more prone to take the lead, than a democratic one. The religion seems to make the Iranians more subdued than another individual of another lenient religion would be. Casting aside the religious pattern, the people of Iran were also aspiring to a parliamentary democracy, the political freedom and independence becoming an ardent desire among them. The main hurdle that stayed in the path of democratization is that Iran has not yet developed a competitive economy, a free market, the state still controls it.

Another aspect that undermine the possibility of internationalization of democracy is that the minorities right were trampled upon (Jalaeipour, 2006), a concept that is inextricably intertwined with the other democratic characteristics. It is of crucial importance to mention that among all this states was a common and well established commitment- to introduce democracy from below (Lane, 2010), moreover, the Western financial help is not to be forgotten. The military coups solidarity with people was a common feature among the states of the Coloured Revolution and was reflected by using a wide variety of technological means (media, mobile phones) and entertainment means (concerts) that became instrumental. All of these are expressions of strong willing to gather more mass support and strengthen the solidarity within citizens with a view to paving a democratic path for better governance. Hence, it should be conceded that all these aforementioned instruments embedded in the Coloured Revolution are outright manifestations of strong willing to bring the society within the confines of the western block. Therefore, considering all the strides made towards this direction by making full use of the representative instruments as such- The Coloured Revolutions states are more prone to a democratic rule in the long run. All in all, it cannot be forged a firm conclusion so as to shape the direction towards which either The Iranian revolution or The Velvet and Coloured ones are more inclined to take strides. All the nations that now after decolonization or after being enslaved have to slowly digest all the features that can make a society democratic, it requires years down the line to create the infrastructure for a democracy and a culture that go in line with this doctrine.

Bibliography Lane, D. (2009) Coloured Revolution as a Political Phenomenon, Journal of Communist Studies and Transition Politics, 25:2-3, 113-135 Hamidreza, J. (2006) Irans Islamic Revolution: Achievements and Failures, Middle Eastern Critique, 15: 3, pp. 207-15. Hill, C. (1940), The English Revolution 1640, London: Lawrence & Wishart

Soboul, A. (1962) The French revolution London: Unwin Hyman White, J. D. (1994) The Russian Revolution in Retrospect in White, J. D. (1994) The Russian Revolution 1917-1921, Edward Arnold, pp. 248-267. Rasler, K. (1996), 'Concessions, repression, and political protest in the Iranian revolution', American sociological revew, 61.1:132, [online] http://search.proquest.com/docview/218837176?accountid=14987 , Accessed 22/03/2013 [online] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution#Financial_crisis . Accessed 9/02/1013