Unveiling Civil-Military Issues: Introducing Civil-Military Crises Dataset

• In Event: Poster Session: Comparative Politics

Abstract

Scholars have traditionally concentrated their efforts on understanding coups in civil-military relations research, often neglecting the critical antecedents and triggering factors leading to these events. This dearth of research is exacerbated by a scarcity of comprehensive data addressing the conditions that precede coups. Bridging this gap, we introduce the Civil-Military Crisis Dataset offering information on various types of crises between civilian governments and militaries in countries across the globe in the period of 1960 to 2023. In coding civil-military crises and their characteristics, we draw insights from past research in civil-military relations and identify five key areas of disagreement between civil and military entities.
This dataset serves as a valuable resource for scholars delving into the specific issues that culminate in coup events. By cataloging civil-military crises, our dataset sheds light on the nuanced interactions between these entities. As scholars utilize this dataset, they will uncover underlying issues that lead to different types of coups. Furthermore, the identified areas of disagreement provide a framework for understanding the dynamics that may have broader implications for civil and interstate conflict research as well as democratization studies.

Authors

• Mustafa Kirisci, Moravian University

• Ibrahim Kocaman, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University