Power Grabs from the Top: A Database of Self-Coups.

This article focuses on the phenomenon of self-coups—rapid, illegal power grabs by sitting national leaders aimed at weakening countervailing institutions to maintain or extend their authority. Drawing from eight major international datasets and original research, the author compiles a comprehensive global dataset of 147 verified self-coup events from 1950 to 2022, highlighting significant discrepancies and definitional challenges in existing sources. The study distinguishes self-coups from ordinary coups and incremental incumbent takeovers by emphasizing their suddenness, illegality, and the incumbent's direct role. An illustrative statistical analysis suggests that international economic aid tends to reduce the likelihood of competitive elections following self-coups, contrasting with patterns observed after regular coups. This dataset provides a foundation for further research on the causes, consequences, and political dynamics of self-coups worldwide.