The belief that change should happen gradually and slowly rather than suddenly or through revolution; a political or philosophical approach favoring incremental progress.
From 'gradual' (from Latin 'gradus', step) plus '-ism'. The term became prominent in 19th-century political philosophy to describe non-revolutionary reform movements.
Gradualism shaped modern politics—while some groups wanted revolution, gradualists believed societies change step-by-step through reform, and most stable democracies actually developed this way rather than through sudden upheaval!
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