The Anti-Coup

Gene Sharp (1928 - 2018) and Bruce Jenkins (1948 - )

Supporters of political democracy, human rights, and social justice have good reasons to be alarmed about coups d'état. These abrupt seizures of the state apparatus have occurred with great frequency in recent decades. Coups have overthrown established constitutional democratic systems of government, halted movements toward greater democracy, and have imposed brutal and oppressive regimes. Coups d'état are one of the main ways in which new dictatorships are established. Coups may also precipitate civil wars and international crises. Coups remain a major unsolved defense problem. This book describes an anti-coup policy focused on defense of the society by the society itself, using non-violent methods. The two basic principles of anti-coup defense promoted in this book are to: 1) deny legitimacy to the putschists, and 2) to resist the putschists with noncooperation and defiance. (Summary by Benjamin Gittins)

Genre(s): Political Science

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 The Anti Coup Benjamin Gittins
00:05:03
Play 02 How coups operate Lynette Caulkins
00:03:13
Play 03 When are coups likely to occur? Benjamin Gittins
00:07:05
Play 04 Support for coups Lynette Caulkins
00:03:15
Play 05 Attempts to prevent coups Benjamin Gittins
00:05:00
Play 06 Coups have been defeated Lynette Caulkins
00:16:31
Play 07 Anti-coup defense Benjamin Gittins
00:03:29
Play 08 The putschists require... Lynette Caulkins
00:03:53
Play 09 Direct defense of the society Benjamin Gittins
00:05:20
Play 10 The need for preparations KevinS
00:02:13
Play 11 The civilian defenders' aims Benjamin Gittins
00:02:03
Play 12 Resistance: general and organized KevinS
00:03:42
Play 13 The importance of strategy Benjamin Gittins
00:04:37
Play 14 Anti-coup weapons KevinS
00:04:20
Play 15 Guidelines for general resistance Benjamin Gittins
00:06:16
Play 16 Treatment of the usurper's troops and functionaries Linette Geisel
00:03:32
Play 17 Facing attack: obstruction and communication Benjamin Gittins
00:03:14
Play 18 Facing attack: repudiation and rejection KevinS
00:01:50
Play 19 Blocking control by the putschists Benjamin Gittins
00:05:45
Play 20 Defying repression and intimidation Linette Geisel
00:02:48
Play 21 The importance of nonviolent discipline Benjamin Gittins
00:05:51
Play 22 International support Linette Geisel
00:03:00
Play 23 Shifts in strategy during the struggle Benjamin Gittins
00:02:16
Play 24 A durable success KevinS
00:01:35
Play 25 In the case of need for long-term defense Benjamin Gittins
00:05:15
Play 26 Collapsing the coup KevinS
00:02:09
Play 27 Deterring coups d'etat Benjamin Gittins
00:02:19
Play 28 Promoting an anti-coup defense KevinS
00:02:15
Play 29 Adopting an anti-coup defense Benjamin Gittins
00:01:45
Play 30 Preparations by the civil institutions KevinS
00:05:59
Play 31 Government initiated preparations Benjamin Gittins
00:03:17
Play 32 Possible legislation and other plans to mobile defense Linette Geisel
00:03:53
Play 33 Other types of preparations Benjamin Gittins
00:01:48
Play 34 Consequences of an anti-coup defense Linette Geisel
00:02:17
Play 35 Appendix One Benjamin Gittins
00:12:45
Play 36 Appendix Two Linette Geisel
00:12:31
Play 37 Albert Einstein Institution Mission Statement / About the Authors Benjamin Gittins
00:04:03