Revolution and Institutional Change: an introduction to the special issue

This special issue delves into the profound and often overlooked impacts of revolutions on institutional change, bridging the gap between various social science disciplines. It presents a systematic inquiry into how revolutions shape political structures and economic systems, challenging conventional wisdom and offering fresh insights. The contributions range from examining 'quiet' revolutions that bring about significant changes without violence, to exploring the economic implications of Islamic revivalism, and analyzing the role of coalition structures in shaping revolutionary outcomes. The issue is divided into two parts: the first focuses on regime overthrow and institutional change, while the second applies rational-choice theoretic analyses to understand revolutions and their results. Throughout, the articles employ diverse methodologies, including quantitative analysis, historical case studies, and theoretical models, to provide a nuanced understanding of revolutionary dynamics and their lasting effects.