How to prevent coups?

A coup took place a poverty-stricken African country again. This time it was in Niger. The reason, of course, was to restore democracy. But unlike most others, its cause was somewhat justified. While being criticized by most international organizations and governments, the spokesperson of U.S. State Department murmured, blaming it on the dictator’s attempt to prolong his rule.

Coupled with the coup in Honduras last year, this brings us a serious question. What is our attitude to the good coups – those against bad or brutal leaders?

Everybody agrees that coup is a bad thing, but when there is no democracy and rule of law in those countries in the first place, is it really that bad if it can help restore the democracy?

Of course, say the dictators around the world, holding the international law in their hands. With this, it seems that only atrocities committed by the incumbents will be tolerated and ignored.

But if you want to prevent the coups, you should do something to ensure there is no popular support for them. Can we do something? The international law is blocking our way, claiming that those are internal affairs.

That really sounds familiar. Allowing husbands to rape and torture their wives, but stoning the wives who resist. We all know this kind of problem can only be solved by laws which can be enforced, but why can’t we do anything in the international stage?

The only reason is that, the world is still ruled by abusive husbands and men who might be nice to their wives, but they are doing business and even owing money to those abusive husbands. This certainly sounds miserable, but I’m sorry that it’s real.