A revolution from above refers to major political and social changes that are imposed by an élite on the population it dominates. It usually occurs in urban areas in a capital city. By contrast, the plain term "revolution" suggests that pressure from below is a major driving force in events, even if other social groups cooperate with—or ultimately capture—the movement. The phrase "revolution from above" was coined by the Spanish writer Joaquín Costa (1846-1911) in the 19th century.Stanley G. Payne, The Franco Regime, p. 10 In contrast, a "revolution from below" refers to a grassroots campaign against élites. Johann Gottlieb Fichte advocated the right of revolution, particularly from above rather than below.
Examples
East Asia Meiji Restoration Wuxu Reform
Middle East
Tanzimat Kemalism in Turkey White Revolution in Iran
Europe Enlightened absolutism in 18th-century Europe The Constitution of the German Confederation (1871) and the formation of the German Empire Stalin's Collectivization of agriculture De-Stalinization under Nikita Khrushchev Great Purge in the Soviet Union under Stalin German reunification
See also Revolution from Above: Military Bureaucrats and Development in Japan, Turkey, Egypt, and Peru, a 1978 book written by Ellen Kay Trimberger Passive revolution – a similar concept associated with Antonio Gramsci
References