ABSTRACT

This chapter provides an analysis of the humanity’s political revolutions beginning from the early 13th century that led to the establishment of the modern politics and economies across the world. It reviews the American revolution, the French revolution during the 18th century; the Russian revolution and the Chinese revolution during the 20th century. The revolution is characterized by an abolition of monarchy, a government by people’s votes (republic), a government by working people (communism), an end of serfdom, market-based capitalism. As for one angle, this chapter compares the political revolutions of these countries with the Tibet’s politics during this period. As for another angle, these revolutions in fact ended up at the Tibet’s door. That is, when Mao Zedong’s army arrived at Potala in 1950, after establishing the People’s Republic of China in 1949. This chapter highlights the fundamental aspects of the modern government and democracy which will be a basis for the next two chapters’ description of a sustainable political economy for Buddhism.

Keywords: Political Revolutions; Monarchy; Republic; Serfdom; Communism; Capitalism; American Revolution; French Revolution; Russian Revolution; Chinese Revolution; Sustainable Political Economy.