From ending the feudal order to struggling against colonial rule; from revolts against slavery to the Bolshevik, Chinese and Cuban revolutions; and from ending foreign occupations to civil wars to overthrow dictators, violent means are seen to justify the non-violent ends. 'Necessary violence' was taken for granted by revolutionaries inspired by Marx, Lenin, Mao and Castro, and countless others.

Nick Hewlett places the objectives of non-violence and peace centre-stage to give you a new understanding of violence in revolt. He argues that making the goal of a wholly peaceful society...