Revolution and the Millennium: China, Mexico, and Iran [Hardcover]

James F. Rinehart (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275959317 | ISBN-13: 978-0275959319 | Publication Date: October 30, 1997 | Edition: annotated edition

Millenarian movements are powerful and emotional social movements that expect an immediate, collective, total, this-worldly, supernatural salvation and transformation of society. They anticipate the complete destruction of the existing sociopolitical and economic order, which they assert will be followed by a new and perfect society. This study provides an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, cross-historical analysis of three 20th-century non-Western revolutionary societies that were profoundly impinged upon by European and American imperialism. It seeks to explore the functional role of millenarianism in these three revolutions. In all three cases, millenarianism prepared the way for revolutionary transformation. It acted as a catalyst for action among that group of the most ardent revolutionists who were willing to pay any price to achieve what they were convinced was the inevitable goal of a utopian society. Millenarianism created the potential for charismatic leadership to emerge. It functioned as a doctrinal platform that awaited the opportunity to elevate a prophetic revolutionary leader to take control. Finally, millenarianism performed a therapeutic, identity, and cathartic function by providing the doctrinal foundation and an effective organization for a social healing process to take place. A challenge to conventional arguments on the origins and outcomes of revolutions, this study will be of great interest to scholars and researchers in comparative politics, sociology, and religion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Rinehart is to be generously credited for the wealth of information that he has collected about these three cultures. Revolution and the Millennium is exceedingly detailed and eruditely annotated.”–The Journal of Conflict Studies

“[t]his is a useful book....If you dont rely on this book as a major source of insight on these revolutions, but as a useful examination of one aspect, it is a solid contribution.”–The Journal of Politics

“Rinehart's overall presentation of the connection between revolution and millenarianism is impressive. For advanced students of the topics he deals with, I might put Rinehart's book among a list of such recommended readings as Guenther Lewy's Religion and Revolution and Ruth Ann Wilner's The Spellbinders: Charismatic Political Leadership, university libraries should acquire it. A paperback edition priced in line with the book's brevity would facilitate making it required reading in various comparative politics courses.”–Perspectives on Political Science

“This will become a standard work on the role of apocalyptic beliefs in revolution.”–Michael Barkun Syracuse University

About the Author

JAMES F. RINEHART is Assistant Professor and Director of the Graduate Program in International Relations, U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Troy State University, Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers; annotated edition edition (October 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275959317
• ISBN-13: 978-0275959319
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,722,922 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brimming with enlightening and interesting information, March 13, 2001

By 

M. Stephen Zitrin (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Revolution and the Millennium: China, Mexico, and Iran (Hardcover)

This book is brimming with enlightening and interesting information, but the thesis could perhaps be more strongly made. I reviewed this book, as well as Millennialism and Violence, and Millennium, Messiahs, and Mayhem: Contemporary Apocalyptic Movements, in The Journal of Conflict Studies, Fall 1998.