The Revolutions

The French Revolution

This revolution was an eye opener in Europe and for Europeans as it showed that an oppressive regime can be defeated. Finance minister Necker was fired and this move made things worse for king Louis as the Necker was the darling of the people of France. Australian by birth, Marie Antoinette was not popular with the people of France especially with the king spending money on her while people suffer; a revolution was on the cards indeed as unrest grew. The king and his wife were eventually killed through being beheaded.

The Communist Revolution of 1917

Before 1917 Russia was ruled by a capitalism ideology under Tsar Nicholas 11, unfortunately for the Tsar Opposition parties like the Communist State led by Lenin wanted Russia to be Communist State, influenced by the ideology of Karl Marx. Lenin was in exile in Switzerland, on his return he tried a coup that was not successful but the second one was, as he came back in disguise. After a successful coup, Lenin took over and ruled Russia under communism until he realized that his policy was not working as approximately 5 million people because of hunger. In 1921 Lenin introduced the New Economic Policy (NEP) that eased the hunger and brought life in Russia but the problem was that the NEP was like capitalism and Lenin’s communist comrades were not happy. When Lenin died in 1924, everybody expected Trotsky to take over the leadership; Instead Stalin schemed his way into power using his position as General Secretary and a series of ruthless political moves. Communism was back to rule Russia but at the expense of people’s lives and Stalin made sure the USSR was number one on the world stage. Russia became the second most powerful country in the world after cold war foes USA. Russia participated in the cold war against the USA (West), Stalin died in 1954. When Chernenko died in March 1985, Gorbachev assumed power unopposed but that was the begin of the end of the USSR. Changes like Glasnot (openness) came and so on…

South Africa under Apartheid

Apartheid was a system of legal racial segregation enforced by the National Party government in South Africa between 1948 and 1994, it was a policy designed to oppress, dominate and control blacks. Apartheid was a policy that made blacks feel inferior and whites superior. This policy banned political parties like the PAC and ANC from participating in the country’s political landscape. Blacks were deprived their human rights  like freedom of movement, right to vote, right to information and so on. The apartheid government justified apartheid to the international community by saying they were protecting South Africa from communism but by 1978 South Africa was in a recession; in the 1980s South Africa was ungovernable with the MK playing a big role in liberating South Africa from apartheid. The end of the cold war, the fall of the Berlin wall and the announcement of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison paved the way for a free South Africa. In 1994 South Africans (Black, Indians and Whites) voted together for the first time.

Egyptian Revolution

The 2011 Egyptian Revolution, Revolution of 25 January) took place following a popular uprising that began on 25 January 2011 which featured a series of demonstration, marches and acts of civil disobedience, labor strikes, and violent clashes between protestors and security services and supporters of the regime of Hosni Mubarak. Protests took place in Cairo, Alexandria and other cities in Egypt, following the Tunisian Revolution that saw the overthrow of the long time Tunisian president. Millions of protesters from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds and religions demanded the overthrow of the regime of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. On 11 February, Mubarak resigned from office following weeks of determined popular protest and pressure.

Grievances of Egyptian protesters focused on legal and political issues including police brutality, state of emergency laws, lack of free elections and freedom of speech, uncontrollable corruption, as well as economic issues including high unemployment, food price inflation and low minimum wages. The primary demands from protest organizers are the end of the Hosni Mubarak regime, the end of Emergency Law (martial law), freedom, justice, a responsive non-military government, and a say in the management of Egypt's resources. Strikes by labor unions added to the pressure on government officials.

As of 16 February, at least 365 deaths had been reported, and those injured number in the thousands. The capital city of Cairo was described as "a war zone and the port city of Suez has been the scene of frequent violent clashes. The government imposed a curfew that protesters defied and that the police and military did not enforce. The presence of Egypt's Central Security Forces police, loyal to Mubarak, was gradually replaced by largely restrained military troops. In the absence of police, there was looting by gangs that opposition sources said were instigated by plainclothes police officers. In response, civilians self-organized watch groups to protect neighborhoods.