A Coup d’etat is the sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group of military commanders. The main prerequisite of a coup is that the group has control of all or part of the country’s armed forces and police. Unlike revolutions, which typically involve large numbers of people working for basic social and economic change, most coups only result in the abrupt replacement of leading government personnel.
The term comes from French, literally meaning “blow of state” (de facto), and has been in use since the mid-19th century. It is most closely associated with events in the developing world, and most often refers to military or political change that occurs without popular consent.
Coups tend to happen in environments that are heavily influenced by military power. They can be initiated either by the military or by those with close ties to it. When a coup does occur, it has the potential to change the direction of a country, and can even lead to civil war.
A well-executed coup can bring stability and prosperity to the country, but a failed one can lead to chaos. A coup can also cause great suffering to the victims, and often leads to large-scale repression of the opposition.
Some notable examples of Coup d’etat include the 1946 Portuguese coup led by Captain Mourao, which ended the dictatorship of Getulio Vargas, the 1964 Thai coup by General Phibunsongkhram, which brought back Prime Minister Thao Ma, and the 2011 Libyan Coup by Colonel General Gaddafi, which triggered the civil war in which his regime was overthrown.