Could you stage a coup in a large, developed country?

Question

EG, UK or USA, or would this simply be defined as a full-scale invasion? Would it actually be possible to overthrown a government in the countries aforementioned by using force (or the threat of force), from within said country's own borders?

It seems to work to a limited extent in poorer, smaller or less poluated nations...so why not in these larger, more powerful nations?

This is an honest question, not a joke, and I'm looking for serious answers.

Thanks!

Answer 1

For a coup d'etat in the UK you need one or more of the following on your side:

The Army
The Royal Family

If you don't have either you have no coup d'etat. The Queen is the head of the Armed Forces and the Police, without either you have no coup that can last, the SAS will see to it fairly quickley.

The Queen controls both to ensure that if an extremist or illegal government comes into power they can be swiftly removed and democracy restored.

There was a supposed/suspected coup attempt in the 1970s under the Wilson government. the BBC did a good documentary about it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4789060.stm

I remeber a quote from it, from one of the alledged plotters that went something along the lines of

"once you control Horse Guards (Buck Palace) you control the government."

Only problem with that is if you try to control the Palace by force, the public would rip you to pieces and large portions of the Army are going to turn on you, even if you had some of their support in the first place.

Answer 2

No the only time it could work in any fashion is where the population rises up, as in Ukraine, and the army refuse to move against them. But that is not a coup. It would be impossible in the countries you mention as the army would not have the support of the people and dare not make a move without their support. As someone who served 16 years with the UK forces anyone organising such an event would find no support there either. UK forces swear their allegiance to the Queen not the government.

Answer 3

It can be done, but the networking involved would get you caught because, even though most intelligence is iffy, there would probably be spies.

If you could keep from being exposed by the CIA of FBI, I don't see how you couldn't do it. The first thing you would need to do is get rid of electronic devices. If you can do that, you can rule. Oi, I am so going on some government list now, but anyway. It is helpful if you have skilled fighters in your coup, but if you wipe out standard communication services (while fixing it so YOU can still communicate), you might be able to do it with minimal force.

Answer 4

a military coup is at the same time as a military of a authorities in a particular us of a overthrows or receives rid of someone who holds a intense class position in society, consisting of a best minister, overseas minister, or perhaps the president. It only skill once you get rid of a authorities reputable through creating use of military stress. a extra modern celebration of this changed into the military coup in Thailand this previous 3 weeks.

Answer 5

I think it could be done, if a clique of politicians followed a long-term plan and infiltrated the army until they had put in place enough high ranking officers to support them.
But why would anybody want to, it seems they can do what they want anyway, once elected, with no fear of consequences how ever they abuse their power to fill their own and their cronies' pockets on the expense of their whole country and its taxpayers?

Answer 6

I don't think so. To stage a coup you need to have control of the Army. I don't see anybody in any developed country who could pull that off.

Answer 7

I beleave that the feds will detonate a nucleor device in an american city,then declare marshall law,and that this is in the works right now. they are building massive concentration camps, haliberton has contracts with the feds to build them. there is one in alaska that is supposed to be able to hold hundreds of thousands of people.they are in every state. I do not have any idea who is behind this.if this is true.god bless america,

Answer 8

I don't forsee that happening any time in the near future. If it is possible I'm sure there's nobody with the power and the will to do it.

Answer 9

i've chanced on some of your questions and answers...u seem to be a very angry person. cut down on the red meat, it makes one aggressive apparently, otherwise, ask your doctor about valium?

Answer 10

no expert, but I don't see how...coups are usually done with very corrupt , narrowly held..centralized power governemnt....too many checks and balances here...