When Is Revolution Legitimate?

Political revolts only gain lasting legitimacy when they can be plausibly framed as restoring a shared moral order rather than merely seizing power. Contemporary calls for radical constitutional change—on both the Left and the Right—should be judged against whether they restore public goods (rule of law, equal liberty) rather than replace one regime’s domination with another. — This reframes debates about insurrection, partisan 'regime change' rhetoric, and emergency constitutional tactics around a single test: does the proposed upheaval restore moral order and public goods?