クーデター

• Reading: クーデター
• Romaji: kūdetā
• Pronunciation: /kɯː.de.taː/

Meaning

Coup d'état; military takeover. The sudden, violent, or illegal seizure of power from a government, typically carried out by a faction of the military or political elite.

A loanword from French coup d'état (stroke of state). In Japanese, it is often abbreviated as クーデタ in more colloquial contexts. Can be qualified by type: 軍事クーデター (military coup), 無血クーデター (bloodless coup). The term implies swift, decisive action by a small group to overthrow an existing regime, often bypassing constitutional processes. Post-coup governments are commonly referred to as 軍事政権 (military junta) or 暫定政権 (provisional government).

Examples

1. 軍主導のクーデターが発生し、選挙で選ばれた政府が一夜にして打倒された。 A military-led coup d'état occurred, and the democratically elected government was overthrown overnight.
2. クーデター後に成立した軍事政権は、メディアを統制し反対派の弾圧を強めた。 The military regime that came to power after the coup tightened media control and intensified the crackdown on dissidents.
3. 歴史的に見ると、クーデターの成否は軍の内部結束と国際社会の反応に大きく左右される。 Historically, the success or failure of a coup d'état is largely determined by internal military cohesion and the international community's response.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, history, international affairs, journalism

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From French coup d'état, literally 'stroke of state'. Borrowed into Japanese in the Meiji era as Japan observed revolutionary politics in Europe and Latin America. The French original was coined in the context of 17th-century European power politics.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern–Contemporary

Generation: All ages

Social background: General