Revolutionary Road

Almost as long as there have been governments, there have been attempts to overthrow them. But what does history tell us about the recent uprisings in the Middle East?

BY BRITT PETERSON | FEBRUARY 7, 2011

England's 1688 Glorious Revolution was short and sweet: Dutch Protestants William and Mary joined with a bloc of English parliamentarians to overthrow the Catholic King James II, and a new era of parliamentary monarchy began. Like many revolutions that came after, England's of 1688 was a discrete event that ended as soon as a new status quo could be achieved.

1688: Prince William of Orange landing at Torbay/Engraving by William Miller

 

Britt Peterson is deputy managing editor of Foreign Policy magazine.