Initially, a color revolution was defined as the nonviolent overthrow of a government including political regime change. Overtime the definition became broader: Almost all coups started with peaceful rallies and demonstrations but only one in five did not involve casualties. US color revolution ideologue Gene Sharp believes that underlying the nonviolent method of struggle is the following principle: any power structure relies on its subjects' obedience to the orders of the rulers. If the subjects do not obey, the rulers have no power.
