Afterlives of Revolution

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The Dhufar Revolution, fought from 1965 to 1976, aimed to overthrow Oman's British-backed Sultan and promote social ideals of egalitarianism and gender equality. The southernmost governorate of Dhufar gained global attention for its Marxist-inspired liberation movement. However, after the counterinsurgency victory, the Omani government erased the revolution from official histories. This study explores the legacies of these silenced revolutionaries, examining how their convictions persist and inspire progressive political platforms despite disappointment and repression. Alice Wilson investigates the "social afterlives" of revolutionary values and networks, revealing how veteran militants utilize kinship and social interactions to foster networks of social egalitarianism and commemorate the revolution unofficially. These afterlives challenge traditional wartime and postwar narratives, emphasizing the ongoing engagement with revolutionary ideals, the role of former militants in postwar modernization, and the limitations of government efforts to enforce conformity. The book highlights that those often seen as co-opted can still uphold counterhegemonic values, reflecting a common condition in Southwest Asia and North Africa—the experience of defeated revolutionaries living under the authoritarian regimes they once opposed.