Abstract Despite the advances of the digital age, authoritarianism remains one of the fundamental challenges of human societies. Contemporary history has demonstrated that the mere accumulation of grievances or the eruption of widespread protests, though necessary, is insufficient for the overthrow of authoritarian regimes. Classical theories of political transition, with their emphasis on charismatic leadership, predetermined stages, and objective indicators, fail to explain the emergence of new decentralized and networked movements. This article, aiming to provide a theoretical and practical framework for analyzing and guiding collective action in authoritarian societies, and employing a pragmatic theory-building approach, presents the theory of "the necessity and sufficiency of effective action for the overthrow of authoritarianism in civilizational transition." This theory rests on two fundamental principles: the overthrow of authoritarianism is impossible without effective action (necessity), and it becomes possible with effective action (sufficiency). Effective action is defined as action designed within the context of collective rationality, conditions of exhausted social resilience, and society's tangible needs, in a manner that connects the six pillars (Saturation, Disclosure, Annulment, Integration, Uprising, and Leap) in a networked and non-linear fashion. The research findings indicate that the present theory, by rejecting centralized leadership, algorithm, and linear time, constitutes a leaderless, context-based, and non-linear model that has rarely been systematically formulated in the existing literature. This article also, by providing a "Key Guide for Reformist Activists," transforms the theory from a purely theoretical framework into a comprehensive practical guide for civilization-builder activists. The article's conclusion demonstrates that the overthrow of authoritarianism and the realization of civilizational transition depend on the wise interlocking of actions upon one another within a nexus network.
غلامرضا رضائی (Tue,) studied this question.