Bulldozer Revolution by Miguel and Jonathan
- What methods did the groups use to express their frustrations and ultimately lead to the revolution?
Two years before the revolution a movement called Otpor was created by a group of university students to express their frustrations against the Serbian Government. The movement had been trying to overthrow the dictator since it was created. Days before October 5 2000. Protestants took over the Kolubara mines, one of the cities most important electricity producers. Days after this over half million workers and youth gathered in the streets of Belgrade to protest. The parliament building was partially burned and the protestants took over the RTS studios ( a symbol of Milošević’s rule) showing that the regime had lost power. Milosevic was a brutal dictator that waged war against Serbia’s neighbors. The Serbian people were frustrated with the economic sanctions that were placed on Serbia. - How is your revolution similar and/or different to one of the revolutions previously studied?
This revolution is similar to one of the revolution we previously studied, the Filipino EDSA revolution. In the day of the revolution thousands of people took over the city’s main roads, the EDSA avenue, without this avenue most workers could not attend their jobs. In the Bulldozer revolution, people took over the RTS building (Radio Television of Serbia). When the RTS studios were taken over, the station was quickly renamed “Novi RTS” (”New RTS”) as a sign that the regime had lost power. The overtaken station is just like how EDSA avenue was taken over. The people were also not violent in Serbia. - What was the eventual outcome of the revolution, and did the nation/people become better due to the revolution? After the revolution, Milošević was turned in to authorities on April 1, 2001 and was sent on June 28 2001 to the Hague to face charges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Milosevic was later found dead in his cell at the UN crime tribunal’s detention center on March 11 2006. Vojislav Koštunica was elected president after dictator Milosevic was thrown out of office. Yes, the country was better after the Revolution, they re-gained their freedom, rights and the Serbian people no longer faced the UN’s economic sanctions.
- Was the revolution justified? Would other methods have worked? Yes, this revolution was justified. In the summer of 2000, when Milosevic’s term as dictator was nearing an end, the election was changed. Instead of the One term of presidency, it was now directly elected via the French system of presidential elections with a maximum of two terms. Many people were angered with this decision because they believed that Milosevic’s reforms were not to improve democracy, but just to keep his power. The vote took place on September 24 2000. The DOS coalition, a unified opposition several opposition parties in Serbia formed, reported that it won over half of the votes. The regime said that no candidate won more than half the vote and that a second round would take place. These irregularities led DOS to a peaceful protest to take Milosevic out of office. Yes, this revolution was justified. Another method that could have happened is that the UN could have been brought in and Milosevic would be handed to them directly as a human rights abuser right away. - Briefly state whether or not your revolution follows Crane Brington’s Stages of Revolution?
The Serbian Bulldozer revolution fits Brington’s revolutionary stages . For phase 1 of the revolution, symptoms, the middle class did express anger over economic restraints and a movement against the government was created. For phase 2 of the revolution a moderate opposing government was formed called the Democratic Opposition of Serbia. For Phase 3 the storming of the RTS building was a violent uprising and Milosevic had resigned due to the rallying. For phase 4, a democratic leader named Vojislav Kostunica came into power. Milošević was turned in to authorities in April 1, 2001. Peace resumed in the nation and in the region, the revolution fits the stages perfectly.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
This article is well written and concise in my opinion. It has many similarities with my chosen topic, The Singing Revolution. This includes taking over radio stations. During the Singing Revolution, people expressed their rebellious anger by singing forbidden songs publicly which is why the Soviet Union (restricting their independence), targeted the TV and Radio Stations where they broadcasted some of the songs. However, the Bulldozer Revolution is mostly different from mine. It is because firstly, it involved violence with rallies, etc. Secondly, it was under dictatorship while the other was controlled by one-party (communism) and thirdly, The Singing Revolution does not fit Brinton Crane’s Stages of a Revolution. Even though this piece of work is good, it didn’t state why the name was so unique. It didn’t say why it was called the Bulldozer Revolution. Maybe it could be explained further? But overall, it was okay. GREAT JOB!
February 8th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
This is a good and interesting revolution. It is written well and is very clear. There are, although, some problems with punctuation which get kind of confusing at times. But over all, they did a good job. - Florence
February 11th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
enzo
this revoltion is indeed similar to people power but it does not shares anytraits with the romanain revolution. the romanians fought back after being hit with the forces of the police, it was agressive and fast passed. the revoltion of romania also lasted for only one week. with these events groups of people were getting organized, they even succeded in taking over a whole national television series with sheer stregth of numbers.
February 14th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
This article is well writen. This revolution truly is related to the people power revolution since both weren’t violent but, people power hasn’t taken over a street near a radio station it is more related to the singing revolution.
February 14th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Loris
this essay is reasonably well written, but you should go into more precise detail on question 3. You have added good detail on the first question, which hooked me to read the whole essay. The comparison between the Philippine revolution and this revolution, was a bit brief, more detail would have been better. But this is well written, congratulations, lets hope you get an A.
February 15th, 2008 at 7:22 am
the article is written with lots of detail and the comparison between the EDSA revolution to this one was good since we were able to understand it better. this revoltution is a good example of people power, and it relates to the singing revolution quite a lot, by the acts they did. haruka
February 19th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Nick
I thought that the whole essay was well put together. Although your revolution contained violence when the People Power Revolution was a non-violent protest i do see how your revolution is indistinguishable. I thought that your answers to the questions were to the point and you did not avoid giving alot of detail. The only thing i would suggest is that you try not to repeat to much about things you have already stated…. Overall good job Jonathan and Miguel
February 19th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
The revolution you chose has people power traits and is well finished. You really did a good job with the research and how it was written. Your topic is comparison with the edsa revolution we studied in the Philippines. Your revolution had some violence when the way the filipino citizens made it peaceful the whole way.
February 19th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
one above ^
is kathy.
February 21st, 2008 at 4:21 pm
This essay was very well done. It is quite similar to EDSA II, the revolution Miwa and I chose to do, in the fact that people took over an important part of the city - the RTS building for this revolution and EDSA for ours - and that the aim was to overthrow the leader of the country. However, the leader of Serbia was a dictator, while Estrada was a corrupt president. Also, this revolution had more violence than ours. It is similar to and different from the first People Power revolution of the Philippines in pretty much the same ways, except Marcos was a dictator, too, while Estrada wasn’t.
-Mahek