Abstract
While many studies of coups are available, most focus on those that succeed in overthrowing one government and replacing it with another. In this article, the focus is on the numerous attempts that fail. After discussing the problems of 1) distinguishing between successful and unsuccessful coup attempts and 2) obtaining accurate data on failed ones, an analysis is made of the reasons for failure, the consequences for those who participate in failed attempts, and the short and long term impact that even failed coups may have on targeted governments. Evidence indicates that the proportion of failed attempts is increasing, and reasons for this trend are suggested.
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