Revolution

1. Radical transformation of any system, whether physical, biological or sociocultural, and implying fundamental transformation of the system's internal and/or environmental relationships accompanied by (or, as a consequence of) an acceleration in the rate of systemic change. Whether revolution reverses the direction of change or precipitates a radical transformation toward which things are moving too slowly, it involves overthrowing the established order rather than developing its latent tendencies.

2. Revolution need not necessarily mean the movement from a state of order to a state of disorder. It is useful to distinguish between progressive revolutions, retrogressive revolutions and status quo revolutions. Common to all of them is that they may be brought about either by violent and destructive means or by non-violent and constructive means.