Státní převrat?

The world may have changed dramatically in the past half century, but the essence of the coup has remained the same. Luttwak takes the reader through its phases, from the planning to the post-coup promises of progress and stability. Mass popular support is not a requirement; passive acceptance is enough. Therefore, the coup must be as non-violent as possible. When executed perfectly, it is quick and bloodless. Bloody coups are almost never successful, and fail completely if they result in a drastic civil war.

This iconic book, which ranks among the classic textbooks of political science, analyzes the military, social, and cultural conditions that make coup attempts possible. It also provides important reflections and facts about the nature and construction of political power. For the Czech edition, translated by Martin Pokorný, the author has written a new preface in which he recalls the 1968 invasion of the occupying forces, which he watched with his own eyes in Prague.

Czech edition