Transnational Diffusion and the Post Communist Protest Model

This paper compares protest tactics and structure in two revolutionary waves, theRevolutions of 1989 which led to the fall of communism in Eastern and Central Europe, and theColor Revolutions of the early 2000’s, which led to the overthrow of several post-communistautocrats. By reviewing literature on both revolutionary movements, I advance a model ofprotest common to both revolutionary waves. Drawing from literature on the process oftransnational diffusion, I analyze the impact of transnational influence on the Revolutions of1989 and the Color Revolutions. Finally, I assess the potential impact of the Revolutions of 1989on the Color Revolutions.