Coup d’etat: The violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group of individuals. Unlike a revolution, a coup typically does not involve a broad redistribution of power among competing groups within a state; it only changes the top ranks of leadership and government structures. A coup requires control of at least the armed forces and the police or military elements of the state, and usually employs some form of intimidation and violence to achieve its goals.
There have been a number of coups d’etat throughout history, including Napoleon’s overthrow of the Directory on November 9, 1799 (18 Brumaire), and Adolf Hitler’s attempt to take over Germany in 1920. Coups d’etat were also common in the Latin American and African countries that gained independence from European colonizers in the 19th and 20th centuries, although they have become less frequent since then.
A growing body of research suggests that a coup that removes an authoritarian regime improves a country’s prospects for democratization; however, there is significant inconsistency in the way that the international community handles these events. Inconsistent responses may reinforce the sense of impunity that often surrounds coup leaders, potentially increasing future risk for unconstitutional change.
The success of a coup depends on many different factors, but a common thread is the presence of an environment in which a small group can wield disproportionate influence in the political arena. For example, coups tend to occur where there is an entrenched culture of military-based repression, in which a military commander has the power to impose their will on a country’s politics.
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