Coupwatch

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen - architect of a 'self-coup'? (Photo Credit REUTERS) In an article coming later this week, I will be delving into the nuances surrounding the technical and political definitions of a coup d'etat. Suffice to say, there are several different definitions of this often brutal form of power transfer, and this can cause problems for political theorists and watchers of international events. Whilst some may see such musings as simply an exercise in semantics, the importance of a definition can be crucial in the realm of international politics. Whether a transfer of power in a country is defined as a coup can directly affect the political and socio-economic circumstances that country then needs to navigate with other nations, and how far the definition is stretched can often be a matter of time, place, and perspective. Cambodia is currently proving to be one of those definition-stretching places. Since 1979, the now-Kingdom of Cambodia ha...

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, right, talks to General Constantine Chiwenga (center) - Photo copyright REUTERS It has now been roughly three days since the Zimbabwe Defence Forces effectively took control of the government. What began as a text book example of an effective military coup now seems in danger of falling into a political quagmire as the new military leadership of Zimbabwe faces the political realities of their actions and the stubbornness of the man the Generals themselves still insist is the President of Zimbabwe. All this is occurring against a national backdrop of malnutrition, economic despondency, and a dramatic series of health crises that have been occurring for at least a decade. With a country in such a dire state for so long, why have the generals only decided to act now? In a word; succession. Robert Mugabe is likely not long for this world, despite his stated aim to stand in the next set of presidential elections. The military is keen to se...