Military coups refer to sudden and illegal seizures of power by military forces against an existing government. These actions are usually aimed at changing or overthrowing the current leadership.
Related terms
Authoritarianism: A form of government characterized by strong centralized power and limited individual freedoms, often maintained through forceful means.
Regime change: The replacement or alteration of one governing regime with another.
Junta: A small group of military officers who seize control after a coup d'état. They often exercise authoritarian rule until civilian governance is restored.