The Earl of Oafham's New Writeupshttp://everything2.com/?node=New%20Writeups%20Atom%20Feed&foruser=The Earl of Oafham2003-01-24T21:15:35ZYoung officers coup (thing)http://m.everything2.com/user/The+Earl+of+Oafham/writeups/Young+officers+coupThe Earl of Oafhamhttp://m.everything2.com/user/The+Earl+of+Oafham2003-01-24T21:15:35Z2003-01-24T21:15:35Z<p>Your average <a href="/title/junta">military dictatorship</a> is able to maintain power, over long periods of time and despite great unpopularity, through simple <a href="/title/brute+force">brute force</a>. Thus, if it's to be brought down at all, it often must be brought down from within. Sometimes, such an internal <a href="/title/coup+d%2527etat">coup</a> is staged by a small faction of young, <a href="/title/democracy">reform</a>-minded, <a href="/title/leftist">liberal</a> officers who have become uncomfortable with the <a href="/title/evil">harsh</a>, typically <a href="/title/where+the+death+squad+lives">right</a>-<a href="/title/Rio+Negro+massacres%253A+background">wing</a> policies of their elders and superiors. This we call a "young officers coup".</p>
<p>The "young officers" are in a unique position of advantage: they have both (a) physical power, as army officers in command of troops, and (b) massive popular support, as reformists who are toppling a hated <a href="/title/authoritarian">authoritarian</a> regime. Also, one could say that (c) the idealism and freshness of youth, is a third factor in favor of these junior conspirators.</p>
<p>A famous example of a Y.O.C. is the<!-- close unclosed tag --></p>…