If You’ll Be My Bodyguard: Presidential Guard Units and Leader Capture During Coups d’état

• Published in: Armed forces and society Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 46 - 69
• Main Author: Matthews, Austin S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.01.2025; Transaction Inc
• Subjects: Coups d'etat; Handbooks; Incumbency; Leadership; Presidents; political violence; civil–military relations; coup d’état

Coup “handbooks” emphasize the capture the incumbent leader as a key objective for plotters to enact successful regime change. However, the literature has yet to empirically assess this relationship. We also lack a robust understanding of how leaders prevent their own capture during coups d’état. Us...