Rapid opportunity shifts ignite spirals of contention reaching revolutionary extremes

Evidence

In times of rapidly changing political opportunity, therefore, we find both recurrent innovation and frequent misapprehension among parties to contention, especially in the case of popular challenges to power-holders. A spiral of contention ensues as each new round of claim-making begins to threaten the interests of (or provide new opportunities for) previously inactive political actors. The extreme arrives in a revolutionary situation: a deep split in control of coercive means during which every actor’s interest is at risk, prompting many to mobilize for action. — Charles Tilly, Regimes and Repertoires, 280

Categorization

• recurring: this claim recurs 2 times within its source
• XREF: connects to: Shifting opportunities drive power-holders rigid and challengers flexible — Charles Tilly, Regimes and Repertoires, 279; Rapid modernization triggers revolution when political institutions cannot process new demands — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4294; Revolutions are defined by rapid drastic shifts in capacity or democracy — Charles Tilly, Regimes and Repertoires, 426 (+6 more)

Broader Connections

• Rapid modernization triggers revolution when political institutions cannot process new demands #contradicts (0.80) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4294
• Modernization outpacing political institutions triggers revolutionary violence #qualifies (0.75)
• Rapid change can itself be the mechanism producing deep social standstill. #complicates (0.75) — Hartmut Rosa, Social Acceleration, 109
• High-capacity mobilization hits the regime directly while low-capacity contention rarely does #expands (0.75)
• Revolutions are defined by rapid drastic shifts in capacity or democracy #expands (0.72) — Charles Tilly, Regimes and Repertoires, 426
• Revolutionary situations recur often but rarely become outcomes #qualifies (0.72)
• Revolution becomes likely when prolonged improvement is abruptly reversed #complicates (0.72) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 4352