Coup d'état
A coup d'état, commonly referred to as a coup, is a sudden and often violent overthrow of a government, typically executed by a small group that may include military leaders or civilians. Unlike revolutions, which involve large-scale conflict and popular uprisings, coups generally do not entail extensive combat; instead, they focus on the targeted removal of key political figures. Historically, coups have been utilized as a means to seize power, resulting in the installation of new leaders who may govern directly or through a figurehead. Notable historical examples include Julius Caesar's rise to dictatorship in ancient Rome and Napoleon Bonaparte's ascent to power in France.
In contemporary contexts, coups have been notably prevalent in smaller nations, particularly in Africa and South America, often arising from political instability, economic hardship, and the challenges of transitioning from colonial rule to independence. The 1991 coup attempt in the Soviet Union serves as a prominent modern example, illustrating the complexities and potential repercussions of such power grabs. Overall, coups d'état remain significant events in global political history, shaping the governance and political landscapes of nations across time.
Coup d'état
A coup d'état is a military or civilian takeover of a country's government characterized by the forceful removal of key figures from power. Coups can be distinguished from events such as civil war and revolution by the fact that they don’t involve large-scale combat. Instead, a section of the military or populace literally or figuratively corners the current heads of state and forces them to step down.
Overview
The coup d'état, or coup, has remained an important tool in various political and revolutionary arsenals throughout human history. During a coup, a potential leader of a nation or government official violently seizes power, usually with control of all or part of the nation's military and police force. While a coup d'état is revolutionary in nature, by definition it isn’t a revolution. In a revolution, different factions wage war for control of the nation, usually with citizens allying themselves with one group or the other. In a coup d'état, on the other hand, the would-be rulers forcibly depose or execute the current head of state and any ruling officials they believe will refuse to conform to the new government. The usurpers then install their own government, usually with themselves in total control. Occasionally these groups install a figurehead as the face of the nation while the orchestrators control events and government from behind the scenes.
Coups d'état have been a part of human history for almost as long as organized governments have existed. Military coups are on record as far back as the ancient Israelites; for example, in biblical times, Zimri was a man who slew the Israeli king to take the crown for himself. Coups have changed the shape of peoples and nations overnight. Both the ancient and modern worlds offer numerous examples of historically significant coups d'état.
Ancient Coups
Perhaps the best-known coup in the ancient world is that of Julius Caesar, who marched into Rome while in command of a large portion of Rome's military. Caesar declared himself dictator for life and used his newfound power to bypass Rome's senatorial government and institute a variety of significant governmental reforms. Caesar was popular with the people both before and after he declared himself ruler. However, his ascent to power upset many formerly influential senators, who feared the total destruction of the Roman Republic. Thus, in a coup to end the coup, several of Caesar’s trusted officials assassinated him.
The story of the French dictator Napoleon Bonaparte is similar. Bonaparte used a coup d'état to become first consul of France in 1799, first consul for life in 1802, and Emperor of France in 1804. He used his military prowess to aggressively expand the French empire. He was successful for a period of time, but eventually overstretched his armies. When the army failed, so did the regime. In a bloodless coup, Napoleon's government forcibly exiled him to the island of Elba, with orders never to return to France. Yet Napoleon was still popular with large sections of the French military. He escaped with a contingent of loyal men, and again secured control of France. However, less than a year later, the British successfully forced him into permanent exile.
Modern Coups
In modern times, the Soviet Union may be the most relevant recent coup d'état. In 1991, the Soviet Union began to lose control of several of its states. Dissent grew noticeably among the populace. The president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, exhibited Western sympathies and acted much differently than the hardened Soviet leaders of times past. Several older political leaders realized that the Soviet Union was moving toward democratization; they collectively resolved to halt this by whatever means necessary. Several high-ranking officials, including the chief of the KGB—the terrifying Soviet security agency—plotted a military coup. According to the plan, Gorbachev would be detained by the armed forces until he publicly relinquished his power. The conspirators would arrest 200 influential individuals they believed most likely to oppose the change in power. The group would then collectively take control of the leadership of the Soviet Union and force it back in line with its original socialistic, hard-line ideals.
Much to the dismay of the conspirators, however, the coup was unsuccessful. Although KGB agents successfully captured President Gorbachev, he refused to be bullied into submission. Additionally, the list of oppositional figures arrested overlooked several key individuals, including Boris Yeltsin. Yeltsin gained international fame for giving passionate, charismatic speeches against the conspirators while standing atop a Soviet tank. He would later become a major political figure. However, the failed coup did have some repercussions, as it led to the total collapse of the Soviet Union shortly afterward.
In the last century, coups d'état have become particularly common in smaller African and South American nations. Since 1950, at least 203 coups d'états have occurred in Africa and 145 in South America. In all of these cases, coups can be attributed to severe economic difficulties and botched transitioning from Western colonial governments to independent states. The Middle East, politically unstable as it may be, has experienced a comparatively small 72 coup attempts in the same time frame.
Bibliography
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