Olin conference: Revolutions in Western history

Leading scholars will look at the theory and practice of revolution in Western history at a John M. Olin Center conference, "The Meaning of Modern Revolutions," to be held Friday, May 17, through Sunday, May 19, in Social Sciences 122. The sessions are free and open to the University community.

"The object of this conference will be to analyze the formation, the stages and the characteristics of revolutionary culture in Western history since the 17th century," said Nathan Tarcov, Professor in Political Science and Director of the John M. Olin Center for Inquiry Into the Theory and Practice of Democracy.

Scholars will examine the English, American, French and Russian revolutions and conclude the conference with a debate about the implications of the downfall of Soviet-type regimes.

"In each discussion of a particular event, we would like to ask what the idea of revolution meant in those particular circumstances, and in doing so we would like to keep in mind a comparative perspective in which each of these great modern revolutions is seen in light of the others," Tarcov said. Conference papers will eventually be published as a book, he added.

For more information, call the Olin Center at 702-3423.