POLS 5209

Revolt, Resistance and Revolution

Revolt, Resistance, and Revolution
• Revolt, resistance, and revolution refers to systematic challenges,
from below, to centers of power
• Centers of power will often try to paint instances of revolt, resistance, and
revolution as being conducted by enemies of the people / nation / state
• Centers of power will disregard or defend their own oppressive activities to
maintain power
• Threat of terrorism
• Legitimate criticisms of government as inciting violence
• Oppression is necessary to maintain stability
Assumes that those who need to be oppressed are uncivilized, immoral, backwards
Revolt, Resistance, and Revolution
• Violence is necessary in resistance
• Revolt is not complete unless all trails of oppression are removed
• Revolutions (the turnover of power) are not complete unless the
system dramatically changes
Revolt, Resistance, and Revolution
• The destruction of the oppressive [colonial] world requires the
removal of coopted native elites, the destruction of structures and
institutions, the rise of the peasant / working classes
• This then raises the question:
Can the subaltern speak?
Revolt, Resistance, and Revolution
• Who are the subaltern classes?
• The lower classes of society
Class is understood in the widest terms
• Extends beyond the class-position/consciousness
The subaltern references the cultural and political movement into the hegemony

Why can’t the subaltern speak?

Revolt, Resistance, and Revolution
• The role of the middle class in the 2011 Egyptian revolution
• The bourgeoisie took hold of government
• Privatization and neo-liberalization became rampant
• Taxation skyrocketed for the middle classes
• Inequality became greater

Where is the subaltern in this story?

• Where do the working classes come into play?
• Where did women perform their rights?