Urban Protests, Coups d’état and Post-Coup Regime Change

Gerling Lena

Research article (journal) | Peer reviewed

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of urban protests on coup attempts and subsequent regime change in asample of 39 Sub-Saharan African countries for the period from 1990 to 2007. Widespread public discontent,especially when occurring in urban centers, can act as a trigger of coups d'état in autocratic regimes. Yet, itis less clear how elites respond to protests in terms of post-coup institutional change and democratization. Toaccount for potential endogeneity of protests and coups, variation in rainfall is used as an instrument for urbanprotests. The results show that rainfall-related urban protests raise the likelihood that a coup is staged, but haveno effect on subsequent democratization.

Details about the publication

JournalPeace Economics, Peace Science and Public Policy
Volume23
Issue4
Page range1-8
StatusPublished
Release year2017
Language in which the publication is writtenEnglish
DOI10.1515/peps-2017-0033
KeywordsCoup d’état; public protest; regime change; autocracy

Authors from the University of Münster

Gerling-Wittkamp, Lena
Professur für Ökonomische Politikanalyse (Prof. Apolte)