Overthrow of government

Coups d'état
Incitement to rebellion
Advocating overthrow of government

Nature

The take-over or alteration of government by force, or the show or threat of force, when carried out by a relatively small number of members of the state apparatus (usually backed by some key military unit) distinguishes the world's frequent coups d'état from broad-based popular or guerrilla managed revolutions. Very often the coup is a military one engineered by a group of officers.

Rebellion against government is defined as a crime in many criminal codes.

Background

The phenomenon of government overthrow has drawn global attention since the 18th-century revolutions, notably in France and the Americas, which highlighted its transformative potential and destabilizing consequences. Throughout the 20th century, the proliferation of coups, especially during the Cold War, underscored its prevalence and international ramifications. Increasingly, scholars and policymakers have recognized the complex interplay of internal dissent, external intervention, and institutional fragility in understanding the recurrence and impact of such upheavals worldwide.

Incidence

If unsuccessful coups associated with a nation's military officers' positioning themselves during major political disorders are included, then the post World War II count exceeds 100. Over 50 were in Latin America (which also had 50 in the first half of the century); over 30 in Asia; over 20 in Africa; and 5 in Europe. Between two-thirds and three-quarters of coups d'état are successful.

Claim

Coups d'état, even by the military, are ideologically nourished by the civilian culture in which they take place. They always reflect society's loss of a sense of lawfulness, and not only the loss of a sense of lawfulness on the part of those doing the coup.

Counter-claim

The idea that the overthrow of government is a significant problem is vastly overstated. In reality, most societies are stable, and such events are rare and often exaggerated by sensationalist media. Everyday issues like healthcare, education, and economic inequality deserve far more attention. Focusing on hypothetical government overthrows distracts from real, pressing concerns that actually impact people’s lives. It’s simply not an important problem in the grand scheme of things.