State and Military Coups in Latin America
Yusuf ÇınarMilitary coups and attempted coups represent some of the most significant obstacles to the development and consolidation of democratic systems. By their very nature, military coups constitute a direct challenge to established political authority. Historically, such interventions can be traced back to early forms of organized political power; for instance, some scholars associate one of the earliest coup attempts with the contested succession of Ramesses IV in Ancient Egypt.At their core, military coups are carried out with the objective of seizing political power and controlling key state institutions. The internal dynamics within military organizations—particularly the ambition to acquire or expand power—can pose a persistent threat to civilian authority across different regions of the world.In this context, Latin America stands out as one of the regions where military coups have occurred most frequently. This study examines the conditions and processes that have facilitated military interventions in politics across Latin American countries, while also documenting the social and international political reactions to these events from a historical perspective.