Abstract

The article presents an analysis of the concept of revolution as developed by Hannah Arendt in her work, On Revolution (1963). More specifically, it examines how Arendt’s reflection on revolution is influenced by Rosa Luxemburg’s texts. Three main directives emerge from the analysis: firstly, the ways in which revolution occurs and develops according to the two thinkers; secondly, Arendt’s idea that a revolutionary movement creates a novus ordo which is also traceable in Rosa Luxemburg’s theory of democracy; thirdly, the examination of freedom: for Arendt, freedom is the sole genuine objective of revolutions, similarly, Luxemburg is unafraid to condemn the ultra- centralism of Lenin and the Bolsheviks, which undermined all instances of popular freedom and participation. It is only through a dialogue between the two thinkers that the Luxemburg statement, “freedom is always freedom of those who think differentlyµ and the Arendtian concept of “public happinessµ can be fully comprehended.