Killian Clarke (Georgetown University) dives into the big question at the heart of his new book, Return of Tyranny: Why Counterrevolutions Emerge and Succeed: why do some revolutions triumph while others collapse? Using fresh global data and powerful lessons from Egypt’s 2011 uprising, the talk reveals how the choices revolutionaries make—both in the streets and after taking power—can determine their fate. It shows why movements that fight violently and push extreme agendas often build tougher, longer-lasting regimes, while democratic revolutions face greater risks. Still, there is a path for them to survive. In a world where authoritarianism is surging back, this talk offers a gripping look at how counterrevolutions rise—and how they can be stopped.
Killian Clarke is an Assistant Professor in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. His research focuses on protest, revolution, authoritarianism, and democratization, with a regional focus on the Middle East.
