Historical Dictionary of Modern Coups d'état

John J. Chin is assistant teaching professor in the Institute for Politics and Strategy at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where he has previously served as research coordinator and post-doctoral fellow. Before entering academia, he was an international affairs analyst at the Congressional Budget Office.Joseph G. Wright is a professor of political science and co-director of the Global and International Studies (GLIS) program at Pennsylvania State University. He is the author of multiple articles and three previous books: Foreign Pressure and the Politics of Autocratic Survival, How Dictatorships Work, and Migration and Democracy.David B. Carter is associate professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis. His research and teaching examines international relations, territorial conflict, terrorism, and political methodology. He has previously taught political science at Princeton University and Pennsylvania State University.

In 1,400+ cross-referenced entries, Chin, Joseph Wright, and David B. Carter provide an extensive account of 582 coup attempts in 108 countries in the post–World War II era. They write masterfully about events, perpetrators, reasons for the rebellions, and ways to deter them. There’s a nine-page guide to acronyms and abbreviations, a 32-page chronology, a 19 page introduction, and a map on the geographic distribution of coup attempts since 1946. All are exceptional, especially the introduction, in which the authors define and identify types of coups, describe the gauges of success, and outline trends. Entries include rich descriptions of events, participants, and outcomes, including “near-misses.” The authors note that they have not attempted to report on every plot, assassination, or form of political turmoil. Regarding individual countries, the book details how coup attempts relate to the stability or turnover of regimes and leaders. The book also focuses on individual roles in leading or being overthrown. This work demonstrates the world’s volatility, with regime change the norm for many. An excellent, sobering accounting of seven decades of government instability and conflict. For readers interested in international relations, politics, and global issues.

• Editor’s ForewardPrefaceAcknowledgementsAcronyms and AbbreviationsMapsChronologyIntroductionThe DictionaryBibliographyAbout the Authors