Diplomatic Immunity The Revolution Throughout History with Dan Edelstein
Oct 17, 2025
In this engaging conversation, historian Dan Edelstein, a professor at Stanford University, explores the evolution of the concept of revolution. He discusses how classical thinkers like Plato and the American Founders viewed revolutions as societal threats, advocating for balanced governance. Edelstein reveals how the Enlightenment shifted attitudes toward history as progress and examines the French Revolution's transformative impact. He also highlights the dangers of anti-pluralism and internal regime changes, emphasizing the delicate balance between stability and hope for change today.
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Politics As Management Not Progress
- Classical thinkers viewed politics as managing perennial conflicts between the few and the many rather than solving them.
- They prized balanced constitutions to prevent violent stasis and preserve stability.
Progress Rewrites History's Purpose
- Enlightenment thinkers reframed history as cumulative progress driven by time and discovery.
- That optimism implied societies would converge on truth, producing an anti-pluralist view of political change.
French Revolution As Progressive Catalyst
- The French Revolution adopted the new revolutionary model as a deliberate catalyst for the progressive future.
- Revolutions became imagined as moments to enact reason, truth, and justice on a national scale.
