Oh! I suppose on the bigger question here, I think there's no theoretical reason they couldn't be... political transitions when the basic structures of society remain unchanged can definitely be relatively peaceful. But they do tend to come with general upheaval of some variety, and more often than not significant violence.
I think the Velvet Revolution has to be viewed in the context of the Eastern Bloc as a whole in that moment: it could proceed peacefully because of the blood already shed in Poland and the Soviet Union (otherwise it would have ended as had the earlier Czech uprising against the Communists). Overall the collapse of communism was a whimper compared to the Revolution and War that installed it in the first place. Probably a pretty good example of a "peaceful" transition of political system combined with relatively little violence, but significant social changes as well.
I think the Velvet Revolution has to be viewed in the context of the Eastern Bloc as a whole in that moment: it could proceed peacefully because of the blood already shed in Poland and the Soviet Union (otherwise it would have ended as had the earlier Czech uprising against the Communists). Overall the collapse of communism was a whimper compared to the Revolution and War that installed it in the first place. Probably a pretty good example of a "peaceful" transition of political system combined with relatively little violence, but significant social changes as well.
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