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Social Revolutions in the Modern World by Theda Skocpol

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Theda Skocpol grew up in Detroit, Michigan, received her B.A. from Michigan State University and went on to earn a PhD from Harvard in sociology, where she is the Victor S. Thomas Professor of Sociology and Government. She is widely regarded in academic circles for her unique approaches to understanding political and social science issues. In 2007, Skocpol was awarded the John Skytte Prize in political science, one of the world’s most prestigious, academic awards. Theda Skocpol’s, Social Revolutions in the Modern World, was widely published in 1994 and presents an extension of her structurally-based, comparative analysis of various social revolutions. In addition to this book, she has also published numerous other works including …show more content…

Sewell's argument instead focuses on developing competing ideologies and the substitution of one ideological dynamic for another. Skocpol’s rebuttal is that Sewell’s high regard for ideology precludes due consideration for other, equally important factors. Her belief is that no actor, group, class or ideological vanguard acts alone to influence or advance the complex situations and conflicts that bring about revolutionary crises and outcomes." The interplay between Skocpol and Sewell’s perspectives is collegial; however, they both show each other’s strategies as unable to grapple with all the variables that facilitate revolutions. However, Skocpol’s inclusion of Sewell’s critique of her work and his argument for increased emphasis and consideration of ideological factors adds depth to understanding the causes of and surrounding revolutionary action and social development. Thus, Skocpol’s compilation provides a generally more

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