Military coups as foreign intervention tools: the case of West African countries

This dissertation examines the foreign interventions which are instrumental in military coups and coup attempts in West Africa. Main questions are: under which conditions and in what spheres of influence these interventions are possible. Politics in West African countries has assumed a military character due to record-breaking coups on a global scale. Rising military coup trends can be examined in three main periods: Establishment, status quo, and the change that manifested itself with the end of the Cold War. The role of external influences on military coups in West Africa being this frequent is undeniable. These external influences are realized through a series of neocolonial instruments such as military training and consultancy, military bases and arms trade, economic cooperation and aid, personal networks. The dependencies of the states in the West African region inherited from the colonial past cause the USA and France to appear as neocolonial external actors in political events such as coups and civil wars. External influence on military coup attempts can be measured by four main indicators: military socialization, economic relations and cooperation, military assets and, finally, personal-corporate networks. These parameters make it possible to assess both the role of external intervention on coups and its success. Analyzing the indicated indicators reveals the level of institutional affinity and socialization between the relevant states. When these indicators reach a certain level, the external intervention is found to be successful.