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politics1d ago
What two centuries of U.S. interventionism tell us about regime change in Iran
- Latest development: The article argues that removing a government is easier than building lasting legitimacy afterward.
- Key point: Tactical success does not guarantee strategic stability in the target country or region.
- Historical context: U.S. interventions in the Caribbean and Central America often led to instability after removal of regimes.
- Iran 1953 example: CIA-backed coup toppled Mossadegh, but long-term democracy did not take hold.
- Chile 1973 and Guatemala earlier show that coups can precipitate long periods of conflict rather than consolidation.
- Postwar Germany and Japan are cited as stable outcomes but under conditions of total defeat and reconstruction.
- Iraq 2003 case shows removal of a leader without stable governance caused prolonged turmoil.
- Conclusion: The central question is not whether a government can be removed but what comes next and who governs with legitimacy.
- Author emphasizes that legitimacy cannot be airlifted; it grows from local institutions and inclusion.
- Bottom line: Interventions often trigger unintended consequences, including power vacuums and nationalist backlashes.
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