A coup is an act that changes the power structure of a state illegally or by force. It usually involves a change in leadership, but it can also include other changes in government institutions and the political economy of the country. A successful coup can lead to a dictatorship, which is characterized by the concentration of power in the hands of one leader or elite and by repressive governance. A failed coup can lead to a civil war or to another military intervention.
A Coup d’etat is a sudden and decisive act in politics that leads to a change in government without the consent of the people. It often occurs because of popular unrest, a crisis of confidence, or a combination of these factors. The term is derived from the French coup d’état (literally stroke of the state or blow of the state), and it has been used in English since the early 19th century to refer to a violent overthrow of existing governments.
Some coups, such as those in Eastern Europe following the fall of communism, have led to a quick transition to democratic regimes. Others, such as Napoleon’s coup in France, established a centralized authoritarian regime that curtailed many revolutionary freedoms. In either case, they demonstrate that coups can have profound long-term effects on societal structures and governance. They can also be a catalyst for national revolutions and for the establishment of new forms of dictatorship, such as those founded by Simon Bolivar and Giuseppe Garibaldi in their struggle against Spain and Italy respectively.
