soft coup
Quiet power seizure
A soft coup is the overthrow or undermining of a legitimate government through non-military means—manipulation of institutions, media campaigns, judicial pressure, or engineered political crises rather than tanks in the streets.
The term often carries accusatory weight, implying illegitimacy without the obvious violence of a traditional coup: Critics called the impeachment a soft coup orchestrated by political elites.
Also called a constitutional coup or silent coup.
Replacement of governing power
- power shiftTransfer of control
- takeoverAssuming command of something
- usurpationWrongful seizure of power
- seizureForcible taking or convulsion
consolidation · autocracy · authoritarianism · one-party rule · kleptocracy · puppet government · political realignment · constitutional crisis
Developing slowly over time
- incrementalProceeding by small additions
- nonviolentNot using physical force
- bloodlessWithout shedding any gore
- legalisticExcessively focused on technicalities
covert · insidious · stealth · quiet · calculated · strategic · systematic · subtle
Biased information for influence
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- election interferenceUndermining legitimate ballot processes
patronage · bribery · blackmail · kompromat · astroturfing · censorship · purges · gerrymandering
Wealthy few who govern
- insidersThose with special access
- deep stateCovert governmental power structure
- shadow governmentConcealed parallel authority structure
- juntaPost-coup ruling clique
cabal · military brass · intelligence services · technocrats · kingmakers · power brokers · apparatchiks · loyalists
regime change
Replacement of governing power
- power shiftTransfer of control
- takeoverAssuming command of something
- usurpationWrongful seizure of power
seizure · consolidation · autocracy · authoritarianism · one-party rule · kleptocracy · puppet government · political realignment · constitutional crisis · state capture
gradual
Developing slowly over time
- incrementalProceeding by small additions
- nonviolentNot using physical force
- bloodlessWithout shedding any gore
legalistic · covert · insidious · stealth · quiet · calculated · strategic · systematic · subtle · deniable
propaganda
Biased information for influence
- disinformationIntentional deceptive falsehoods
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
election interference · patronage · bribery · blackmail · kompromat · astroturfing · censorship · purges · gerrymandering · voter suppression
oligarchs
Wealthy few who govern
- insidersThose with special access
- deep stateCovert governmental power structure
- shadow governmentConcealed parallel authority structure
junta · cabal · military brass · intelligence services · technocrats · kingmakers · power brokers · apparatchiks · loyalists · puppet masters
- coupsoverthrow, ousting, dethronement, putsch, dethroning
soft coupmilitary coup
Armed seizure of government
violent coup · armed takeover · armed insurrection · military intervention · palace coup
soft, coup, softer, softest, softly, soften, softens, softened, softening