Revolution from above

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A revolution from above refers to major political and social changes that are imposed by an élite on the population it dominates. It usually occurs in urban areas in a capital city. By contrast, the plain term "revolution" suggests that pressure from below is a major driving force in events, even if other social groups cooperate with—or ultimately capture—the movement. The phrase "revolution from above" was coined by the Spanish writer Joaquín Costa (1846-1911) in the 19th century.Stanley G. Payne, The Franco Regime, p. 10 In contrast, a "revolution from below" refers to a grassroots campaign against élites. Johann Gottlieb Fichte advocated the right of revolution, particularly from above rather than below.{{Citation |last=Beiser |first=Frederick |title=Fichte and the French Revolution |date=2016 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/cambridge-companion-to-fichte/fichte-and-the-french-revolution/5244BB7CDE3BB041A9C82C5EE1557142 |work=The Cambridge Companion to Fichte |pages=38–64 |editor-last=James |editor-first=David |access-date=2023-12-27 |series=Cambridge Companions to Philosophy |place=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |doi=10.1017/9781139027557.004 |isbn=978-0-521-47226-5 |editor2-last=Zöller |editor2-first=Günter|url-access=subscription }}