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Organized violence of man on man continues to be part of the human experience. In many cases, despotic regimes perpetrate this violence. In other situations, violence is the response of people that rebel against oppressive systems.

In the book “The Limits of Violence: Lessons of a Revolutionary Life”, Ira Chaleff compiles the memories and reflections of Élan Le Vieux, a hundred year old revolutionary who lived through much of the political turmoil of the 20th century.

Under the premise that people have the right to stand up to an oppressive regime, Élan focus the violent methods of revolutionary struggle, their legitimacy, consequences and limits. He analyzes the challenge of replacing an oppressive regime without becoming the new oppressor. With this approach, Élan contributes to the conception, development and preservation of the highest values of any genuine revolution, independent of its ideological views.

Élan’s counsel to 21st century revolutionaries is to first analyze if they can achieve their goals through reforms before concluding that revolution is the only mechanism.

Once negotiations for freedom from oppression are exhausted, Élan calls for consideration of modern revolutionary tools that can become as or more effective than the traditional armed struggle.

If the final judgment is that violence to combat violence is the only possible course of action, Élan examines how to do this without becoming a violent individual or establishing a regime as oppressive as the one the revolutionary is trying to overthrow.

Throughout this book, Élan offers an ethical revolutionary path to becoming a great historical character that future generations will admire and honor.