Abstract

This article examines the impact of coup-proofing on political violence while a leader is in power and during regime transition. This study focuses on the case of Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s rule between 1979-2003 and including the aftermath of the 2003 US invasion, which led to Saddam’s removal from power. The article argues that Saddam Hussein’s coup-proofing strategies allowed him to implement political violence and human rights abuses against the wider population. Moreover, Saddam’s coup-proofing strategies exacerbated violence beyond his rule by driving his former regime loyalists into violent insurgencies as well as indirectly by setting up a society with large amounts of distrust between loyalists and others.

摘要

本文考察了在领导人执政期间和政权更迭期间防止政变对政治暴力的影响。本研究重点关注 1979 年至 2003 年萨达姆·侯赛因 (Saddam Hussein) 统治期间的伊拉克案例，包括 2003 年美国入侵导致萨达姆下台的后果。文章认为，萨达姆侯赛因的政变策略使他能够对更广泛的人群实施政治暴力和侵犯人权行为。此外，萨达姆的政变策略通过驱使他的前政权忠诚者陷入暴力叛乱，以及间接地通过建立一个忠诚者与其他人之间存在大量不信任的社会，加剧了超出他统治范围的暴力。