Return of Tyranny: Why Counterrevolutions Emerge and Succeed

by Killian Clarke

Overview

Why do some revolutions fail and succumb to counterrevolutions, whereas others go on to establish durable rule? Marshalling original data on counterrevolutions worldwide since 1900 and new evidence from the reversal of Egypt's 2011 revolution, Killian Clarke explains both why counterrevolutions emerge and when they are likely to succeed. He forwards a movement-centric argument that emphasizes the strategies revolutionary leaders embrace both during their opposition campaigns and after they seize power. Movements that wage violent resistance and espouse radical ideologies establish regimes that are very difficult to overthrow. By contrast, democratic revolutions like Egypt's are more vulnerable, though Clarke also identifies a path by which they too can avoid counterrevolution. By preserving their elite coalitions and broad popular support, these movements can return to mass mobilization to thwart counterrevolutionary threats. In an era of resurgent authoritarianism worldwide, Return of Tyranny sheds light on one particularly violent form of reactionary politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009646871
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	10/23/2025
Series:	Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics
Pages:	334
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Killian Clarke is an Assistant Professor in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. His research on revolution, protest, and democratization has been published in leading political science journals including the American Political Science Review, British Journal of Political Science, World Politics, and Annual Review of Political Science.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. What is a counterrevolution?; 3. A theory of counterrevolution; 4. The global emergence and success of counterrevolution; 5. Political elites and Egypt's counterrevolution; 6. Popular mobilization and Egypt's counterrevolution; 7. Trajectories of counterrevolution; 8. Conclusion.

Editorial Reviews

‘A path-breaking book that explores the susceptibility of regimes born through popular uprising to reversal by elites from the ‘ancien regime'. Built on exemplary research including in-depth analysis of authoritarian relapse in the case of Egypt, sophisticated large-n quantitative analysis, and structured case comparison with countries such as Cuba, Hungary and Tunisia, Return of Tyranny engages with some of the liveliest debates in political science today. Elegantly written and logically constructed, it is a must-read for anyone interested in the dynamics of regime change, democratization and revolution.' Eva Bellin, Myra and Robert Kraft Professor of Arab Politics, Brandeis University

‘This splendid book teaches us why counterrevolutions emerge and why they succeed. Grounded in an original dataset, a detailed study of Egypt, plus comparative studies of six other cases across three continents, it is daring in its reach but careful in its methods. Clarke's work exemplifies comparative politics at its best.' Nancy Bermeo, Nuffield Senior Research Fellow, Oxford University

‘Much has been written about revolution, but we still know remarkably little about counter-revolution. Whether it be early 20th century Hungary, Cold War Guatemala, or contemporary Egypt, counterrevolutions have powerfully reshaped political regime trajectories. As the first major comparative study of counterrevolutions, Return of Tyranny breaks new ground. It offers a novel theory to explain why some revolutionary governments fall prey to counter-revolution and others do not. Although in retrospect counterrevolutions often seem inevitable, Clarke makes a compelling case that they can be avoided-and that the strategies pursued by revolutionary governments make an important difference. I learned much from this book. Anyone interested in political regimes should read it.' Steven Levitsky, David Rockefeller Professor of Latin American Studies, Professor of Government and Director of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard University

‘Comparative politics has needed a book like this – one that directly and dedicatedly tackles the topic of counterrevolutions – for a very long time. We have not lacked such a book because comparativists fail to appreciate the importance of counterrevolutions, but because the subject is devilishly hard to conceptualize, measure, and theorize. Killian Clarke succeeds mightily at all these tasks, casting new light on ‘tyranny's return' in specific nations like Egypt and across the world.' Dan Slater, James Orin Murfin Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Emerging Democracies, University of Michigan

From the Publisher