A Rainbow of Revolutions
Success has many fathers, and when people power turns out well many will claim the credit. Reasonably enough: the pressure of foreign governments, the activities of outside NGOs, moral support, financial help, the foreign press, the use of e-mails and so on have all contributed to the downfall of various dictators. But all the evidence is that people power, if it is to bring about a lasting change that increases freedom, must bubble up from below. It must be indigenous, broad-based and, ideally, non-violent.
The Economist, January 19, 2006
economist.com
