Overthrow (book)

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Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq is a book by Stephen Kinzer released in 2006 about the United States's involvement in overthrowing governments from the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893 to Iraq in 2003. Included are mini-histories of the American coups in Hawaii, Cuba, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Honduras, Iran, Guatemala, South Vietnam and Chile.

The "coups" in this book vary in nature. Some refer to American support for existing challenges to the native government that lead to the government's demise. For example, in 1898, the United States helped overthrow the government of Cuba by supporting local rebels who were already fighting their government. In other circumstances -- such as in Iran and Chile -- the United States initiated, planned and orchestrated the overthrow of the native government. Prior to US involvement, there was no challenge to the native government.