WHEN PUTSCH COMES TO SHOVE: THE SOLDIER AND SOCIETY: MILITARY ETHOS IN RUSSIA AND VENEZUELA

Abstract

The literature on military coups presents a plethora of in-depth case studies or large-N models trying to determine the impact of particular variables. The two analytical frames are rarely intermixed, or, when they are, cases are handpicked to fit theories. This study exposes an untested issue, namely the resilience of communist and post-communist regimes to military coups, finds a possible large-N explanation, namely role beliefs and societal trust, and embarks on two historical case studies through time. This combined approach allows for more explanatory leverage and offers a systemic view of the communist and post-communist resilience to military coups.