Toppling Governments: Waves of Military Coups in Latin America

• In Event: Waves of Democratization and Authoritarianism in Latin America

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a multi-year effort to identify the participants, timing, and outcome of 333 attempts to overthrow presidents in Latin America since 1900. It explores whether these efforts occurred in waves, that is, disproportionately in certain time periods. Preliminary results are that slightly more than half of all coups did not oust incumbents. These results also suggest that coups spark more coups. But domestic factors generate these waves; international demonstration effects play a secondary role in waves of coup-making.

Author

• Fabrice E Lehoucq, University of North Carolina/Greensboro