How the meaning of revolution has changed over time

The Revolution to Come by Dan Edelstein is a sweeping intellectual history of “revolution,” tracing how the concept evolved from ancient Greece to Leninist Russia. Blending intellectual history with political theory, this impressive and necessary study reveals how and why revolution shifted from a notion of cyclical change to a future-driven ideal, writes Edoardo Vaccari. The Revolution to Come: A History of an Idea from Thucydides to Lenin. Dan Edelstein. Princeton University Press. 2025.