Coups and Conflict in West Africa, 1955-2004

@article{McGowan2006CoupsAC,
  title={Coups and Conflict in West Africa, 1955-2004},
  author={Pat McGowan},
  journal={Armed Forces \& Society},
  year={2006},
  volume={32},
  pages={234 - 253}
}
  • P. McGowan
  • Published 1 January 2006
  • Political Science
  • Armed Forces & Society
From independence through 2004, the sixteen West African states have experienced forty-four successful military-led coups, forty-three often-bloody failed coups, at least eighty-two coup plots, seven civil wars, and many other forms of political conflict. Part I of this article used a political-economy approach to provide theoretical explanations of this record. Part II presents a unique data set describing all coup-related events in West Africa since 1955. Military interventions are widespread… 
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