In this book the author analyzes the phenomenon of coup d’état as a specific means of gaining state power. Though quite frequently found in practice, this phenomenon is almost completely unexplored in political theory. The author examines the concept of coup d’état itself and its various connotations and compares coup d’état with other forms of usurpation of state power, such as revolutions, rebellions, civil wars or guerilla warfare. He also deals with the technique of coup d’état. The book includes an overview of accomplished coups d’état since the beginning of the twentieth century and a list of present political leaders who came to power in this way.

Marek Bankowicz, born in 1960, is professor of political science and head of the Department of Contemporary Political Systems at the Institute of Political Science and International Relations at the Jagiellonian University (UJ) in Cracow. He is the author and co-author of many publications on comparative political science and the history of modern global politics.

Contents: Coup d’état – Conceptions and contexts – Coup d’état, revolution, rebellion, civil war and guerilla warfare – Technique of coup d’état – Scheme of coup d’état – The most important coups d’état in the years 1900-2012 – Present political leaders, who gained power by means of coup d’état. Inhaltsverzeichnis