The document outlines a simulation where the reader takes on the role of a revolutionary leader seeking to overthrow the government through non-violent or violent means. It provides background on historical revolutionary figures like Gandhi, Che Guevara, and theoretical approaches. The reader must make choices at each step that determine their revolutionary path and whether their movement succeeds or fails.

1. Revolutionary Road
In the following PowerPoint you will build a revolution based
on two historical Latin American revolutionaries and several
revolutionary theorists. Whether or not your revolution
succeeds, however, is up to you…

2. Step 1: Design Your
Revolutionary
An effective and inspirational revolutionary leader
is essential to any revolutionary movement. Your
revolution is no exception. Revolutionaries,
however, differ in many ways. From non-violent
revolutionaries such as Mohandas Gandhi, to
revolutionaries like Che Guevara who use violence
as a means to achieve their goals; revolutionary
paths alter drastically depending on their leader. In
your revolution it is up to you to decide your
revolutionary personality.

3. Option 1: Violent
Revolutionary
Revolutionary theorist Karl Marx believes the
success of revolution hinges upon the proletariats
ability to fight violently against the Government.
Will you choose violence as a means to reach your
aims?
“ „Violence is the midwife of every old society pregnant with a
new one. It is itself an economic power.‟ ” (81, The Syntax of
Violence. Between Hegel and Marx)

4. Option 2: Non-Violent
Revolutionary
A lesser traveled road to revolution is one of non-
violence. Gandhi, for example, relied upon non-
violent practice in his push for revolution.
“By the example of [Gandhi‟s] consecrated life, by his
gentleness and simplicity, by his understanding of the Indian
temperament and faith and ideals, he has summoned a
following and built up a technique of non-violent revolution
that is baffling to the British government and a challenge to the
whole world.” (Das 204)

5. Select Your Ideology
Option 1: Violence
Option 2: Non-Violence

6. Abimael
Guzman
Your revolutionary uses
violent means to achieve his
goals. You‟re a revolutionary
much like Abimael Guzman.
It is now up to you to follow
Guzman‟s revolutionary path.
Born in Mollendo, Perú you are well
educated and previously a member of
the upper elite. Your
education, paired with your growing
anger of the Peruvian Government
has lead you to turn to Maoism. You
believe that a violent revolution is the
only means to lasting change.

7. Goal 1: Gain a Solidified
Public Opinion
Abimael Guzman, your revolutionary road begins
with the successful acquisition of a solidified public
opinion. Only through such opinion can you create
the revolution you so desire. But how do you go
about finding this solidified public opinion?
“General awareness of resentment against the
provocations, together with the provocations themselves, creates
that kind of demand for change which becomes effective in
making revolutions.” (Gottschalk 5)

8. Option 1: Bottom-Up
Approach
You use a bottom-up approach to create a solidified
public opinion. Through grassroots efforts and
small acts of terrorism you build yourself into a
living folklore. You spread your revolutionary
ideology through the peasantry first, and then push
your aims towards the capital.

9. Option 2: Top-Down
Approach
You use a top-down approach to create a solidified
public opinion. You use your great intellect and
education to earn the support of elites within the
government. After earning the respect of a few
other elites you push your revolution ideology
throughout the peasantry. Now, with the peasantry
as well as political elites at your side, you attempt to
overthrow the entirety of the central government.

10. Choose Your Approach
Option 1: Bottom – Up Approach
Option 2: Top – Down Approach

11. A Wise Choice Indeed
With a belief in the power of the proletariat, you like many revolutionaries, do in fact
choose a bottom – up approach. You decide to slowly and deliberately build up your
influence in rural Peru before taking your revolution to the capital.

12. Goal 2: Create a Program
of Reform
According to revolutionary theorist Luis
Gottschalk, “hopefulness of revolutionary success
comes first from the fact that there exists a program
of reform.” (Gottschalk 5) You, Guzman, must also
create a program of reform in order to reach your
goals of revolution.

13. Option 1: Initiate the
“People‟s War”
Home by home, town by town, you infiltrate Perú
on your path to the capital. You target the army, the
police, government officials, and slowly but surely
conduct a violent coup which gains power
throughout Perú. This, is your “people‟s war.”

14. Option 2: Seek Support From
Like - Minded Neighbors.
With your intelligence and education partnered
with a loyal following amongst the proletariat of
Perú, you seek the help of like - minded neighbors.
Between your proletariat followers and new allies
you now have enough power to head for the capital
full force.

15. A Decision Must Be Made
Option 1: Initiate the “People‟s War”
Option 2: Seek support from like – minded neighbors.

16. Your Power is Mounting
A Maoist at heart, you follow your revolutionary ideology and initiate
the “People‟s War.”

17. The Final Step: Is There
Sufficient Weakness of the
Conservative Force?
Revolutionary theorists agree that the weakness of
the conservative forces is the most necessary
immediate cause of revolution. In Gottschalk‟s
paper, he writes, “Despite universal demand for
revolutionary change, despite intense hopefulness
of success, unless those who wish to maintain the
status quo are so weak they cannot maintain
themselves, there is little likelihood of revolution.”
(Gottschalk, 7) ) Is there sufficient weakness of the
conservative forces for you to successfully complete
your revolution?

18. Option 1: Sufficient Weakness
of the Peruvian Government
Your violent coup slowly bleeds out the power of
the Peruvian government. Over time the
government becomes weak enough for a full,
immediate and drastic take over. Your revolution
has come, and your revolution has won.

19. Option 2: Insufficient
Weakness of the Peruvian
Government
Although your violent coup has indeed hurt the
Peruvian government, your murderous ways
backfire. Your own coup grows angry with your
violent and militant ways and turns against you.
Desperate, you amp up the violence and attack
Lima full force. Your revolution cascades out of
your control and you meet your demise.

20. What‟s It Going to Be?
Option 1: Sufficient weakness of the Peruvian government
Option 2: Insufficient weakness of the Peruvian government

21. You Have Chosen the Correct Path, it is
Guzman Who‟s Path Does not Shine
The violence that you have used to gain power ends up being your downfall. In 1992, after
killing thousands of people, the Peruvian government captures you. Your revolutionary road,
although quite successful in comparison to most revolutions, falls short like nearly all
revolutions do

23. .
Rigoberta
Menchú
Your revolutionary uses non
– violent means to achieve her
goals. You are much like
Rigoberta Menchú.
Born on January 9th, 1959, you are an
indigenous Guatemalan of the K‟iche‟
ethnic tribe. In response to
Guatemalan police infiltration of your
tribe during the Guatemalan civil war;
you, your father, mother, and brother,
have each joined the Committee of the
Peasant Union (CUC). Immediately
after joining the CUC, the Guatemalan
army has arrested, tortured and
murdered your father, mother, and
brother. To avenge their deaths, you
have made it your duty to rise against
the Guatemalan government through
non – violent means

24. Goal 1: Gain a Solidified
Public Opinion
Rigoberta Menchú, your revolutionary road begins
with the successful acquisition of a solidified public
opinion. Only through such opinion can you create
the revolution you so desire. But how do you go
about finding this solidified public opinion?
“General awareness of resentment against the provocations, together
with the provocations themselves, creates that kind of demand for
change which becomes effective in making revolutions.” (Gottschalk
5)

25. Option 1: Gain Support of
Dissident Elites
Mourning the loss of your family, you persuade
political higher-ups to help your revolutionary
cause. You convince the higher ups to push your
opinion through sympathetic elites. Then, once
opinion is earned up top, you push that opinion
throughout the public, creating a solidified public
opinion.

26. Option 2: Seek the Support of
the Proletariat
You take matters into your own hands. Full of passion
and a desire for justice, you increase your
involvement in the CUC. Your educate the Indian
peasant population in resistance to massive military
oppression. Your grassroots efforts help to build a
solidified public opinion of your cause.

27. Choose Your Path
Option 1: Persuade political higher–ups to spread your revolutionary
ideology
Option 2:
Spread your revolutionary ideology through grassroots efforts

28. Your on Your Way
The current political climate proves to dangerous to trust your revolutionary ideology in
the hands of political elites. Instead you educate the Guatemalan people. You join the
radical 31st of January Popular Front, where you work chiefly in educating the ethnic
masses. Quickly, you spread the knowledge of Guatemala's repressive dictatorship in the
minds of the common man, and spur on revolutionary ideology across the country.

29. Goal 2: Create a Program
of Reform
According to revolutionary theorist Luis
Gottschalk, “hopefulness of revolutionary success
comes first from the fact that there exists a program
of reform.” (Gottschalk 7) You, Rigoberta, must also
create a program of reform in order to reach your
goals of revolution.

30. Option 1: Organize Massive
Opposition
You continue where you left off. Now, though, you
amp up your opposition and organize resistance in
the form of strikes. Your strikes help to create more
support for your cause amongst the Indian
peasantry, as well as demonstrate your immediate
and drastic desire for change in the Guatemalan
government.

31. Option 2: Seek Support From
Like - Minded Neighbors.
With your loyal following amongst the proletariat
of Guatemala, you seek the help of like - minded
neighbors. Between your proletariat followers and
new allies you now have enough power to head for
the capital full force and demand change for your
people.

32. What Will It Be?
Option 1: Organize Massive Opposition in the Proletariat
Option 2: Seek Support of like – minded neighbors.

33. Your Power is Mounting
Furthering your support from the public, you figure prominently in organizing strikes against
the Guatemalan government. In 1980, you help lead a strike the CUC organized for better
conditions for farm workers on the Pacific Coast. And, on May 1, 1981, you are heavily
involved in large demonstrations in the capital.

34. The Final Step: Is There
Sufficient Weakness of the
Conservative Force?
Revolutionary theorists agree that the weakness of
the conservative forces is the most necessary
immediate cause of revolution. In Gottschalk‟s
paper, he writes, “Despite universal demand for
revolutionary change, despite intense hopefulness
of success, unless those who wish to maintain the
status quo are so weak they cannot maintain
themselves, there is little likelihood of revolution.”
(Gottschalk, 7) Is there sufficient weakness of the
conservative forces for you to successfully complete
your revolution?

35. Option 1: Your Opposition has
Squandered the Guatemalan
Government
Your grassroots efforts have formed an enormous
following. With your growing numbers, your
ideology spreads across borders and continents.
Soon, other countries come to your side to help the
suffering people of Guatemala. With your new
found allies you march to the Capital and peacefully
bring down your oppressive government.

36. Option 2: Your Opposition has
Gained Strength, but your
Revolution Continues
Your grassroots efforts have worked in securing a
loyal and large following, however, your work is far
from finished. The people of Guatemala continue to
suffer at astonishing rates. You have helped many
of those suffering, but permanent and lasting
change has yet to come about. But, with your voice
that echoes the stories of the Guatemalan people
across the globe, the future looks better than ever.

37. Choose Wisely
Option 1:
Your Opposition has Squandered the Guatemalan Government
Option 2: Your Opposition has Gained Strength, but your Revolution
Continues

38. The Inconvenient Truth
A Moral Lesson

39. A Moral
Lesson
Whether violent or
non-violent, all revolutions
tell a similar story. A story
that reminds us of just how
powerful words can be.
Through your revolutionary
rhetoric and spirited speeches
you have laid the bricks of
history on your revolutionary
road. You have altered the
course of a country and it‟s
people for ever. With your
words, you have changed the
world.

40. Links
 Rigoberta Menchú Biography
 Abimael Guzman Biography
 Louis Gottschalk‟s Causes of Revolution
 John Foran on Revolutionary Theory
 Rigoberta Menchú‟s Film When the Mountains Tremble
 Taraknath Das on Non-Violent Revolution
 Vittorio Morfino on Violence in Revolution

41. Citations
 Abimael GuzmánReynoso. Líder De SenderoLuminoso. Photograph. Picasaweb. Web. 6 Mar. 2011.
 Collopy, Michael. Rigoberta Menchú. 2008. Photograph.
 Defronzo, James. "Social Movements and Revolutions." 7-25. Print.
 Foran, J. "Theorizing the Cuban Revolution." Latin American Perspectives 36.2 (2009): 16-30.
 Frängsmyr, Tore. "The Nobel Peace Prize 1992: Rigoberta Menchú Tum." Nobelprize.org. Web. 06 Mar. 2011. <http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1992/tum-bio.html>.
 Gottschalk, Louis. "Causes of Revolution." American Journal of Sociology 50.1 (1944): 1-8. Print.
 Morfino, Vittorio. "The Syntax of Violence. Between Hegel and Marx." Historical Materialism 17.3 (2009): 81-100. Print.
 Presidente Gonzalo Shown to the Press, September 1992. Perf. Abimael Guzman. YouTube. 9 Feb. 2008. Web. 06 Mar. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQzUK7qjxXo&feature=related>.
 Revolution Manuscript. Photograph. Loc.gov. Web. 6 Mar. 2011. <http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0307-8/hale.html>.
 Silverstone, Michael. Rigoberta Menchu: Defending Human Rights in Guatemala. New York, NY: Feminist at the City University of New York, 1999. Print.
 Simon Bolivar. Photograph. Quezon. 14 July 2009. Web. 6 Mar. 2011. <http://www.quezon.ph/2009/07/14/the-bolivarian-temptation-an-illiberal-democracy/>.
 Taraknath Das. “The Progress of the Non-Violent Revolution in India.”The Journal of International Relations. Vol. 12, No. 2 (Oct., 1921), pp. 204-214
 The Dancer Upstairs. Dir. John Malkovich. Perf. Javier Bardem, Laura Morante and Juan Diego Botto. Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2003. DVD.
 The Motorcycle Diaries. Dir. Walter Salles. Perf. Gael García Bernal, Rodrigo De La Serna and Mercedes Morán. FilmFour, 2004. DVD.
 When the Mountains Tremble. Dir. Newton T. Si

42. A Fatal Mistake
Your revolution has proven insufficient. Counter-revolutionary forces have
crushed your moral and frozen your revolutionary ideology in time. Your
revolution has come to an end.