A sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government, typically carried out by a small group within the existing state apparatus. Coups often involve military forces overthrowing civilian leadership or rival military factions seizing control.
Short for French 'coup d'état' meaning 'stroke of state,' first used in this political sense in the 1640s. The term emphasizes the sudden, decisive nature of the power seizure, like a swift blow or strike against the existing order.
The 20th century witnessed over 300 successful coups worldwide, from the 1973 Chilean coup that brought Pinochet to power to more recent events like the 2021 Myanmar coup. Modern coups often involve controlling media, airports, and communication networks rather than just capturing the palace, reflecting how power has evolved in the digital age.
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