Overthrow (book) (original) (raw)

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2006 book by Stephen Kinzer

Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq
Author Stephen Kinzer
Audio read by Michael Prichard[1]
Language English
Subject United States involvement in regime change
Publisher Times Books
Publication date 2006
Publication place United States
Media type Print (hardcover and paperback)
Pages 384
ISBN 978-0-8050-7861-9 (hardcover)
OCLC 907615158
Dewey Decimal 327.73009
LC Class E744 .K49 2006

Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq is a book published in 2006 by New York Times foreign correspondent and author Stephen Kinzer about the United States's involvement in the overthrow of foreign governments from the late 19th century to the present. According to Kinzer, the first such instance was the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893, and continuing to America-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. His examples include mini-histories of the U.S.-supported or encouraged coups d'état in Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Honduras, Iran, Guatemala, South Vietnam, Chile, Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Some examples used in the book refer to American support for local rebels against the existing national governments that led to a change in power. For example, in 1898, the United States helped to overthrow the government of Cuba by supporting local rebels who were already fighting their government. In other circumstances, such as in Iran, Guatemala, and Chile, Kinzer argues the United States initiated, planned and orchestrated the regime change.

This book talks about things such as how the United States, during its first real coup, decided to remove Nicaraguan President Zelaya from power, over the objections of officials like the United States Ambassador to Nicaragua, Finnegan Courtney, because they wanted the power of the canal. It also says that the United States tricked the Panamanians into independence from Colombia so that they could have the land to build the Panama Canal, and Colombia would not give them the land.

Publishers Weekly wrote that Kinzer "makes a persuasive case that U.S. intervention destabilizes world politics and often leaves countries worse off than they were before."[2]

Kirkus Reviews called it a "sobering and saddening book."[3]

  1. ^ Overthrow (Audiobook) by Stephen Kinzer. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  2. ^ "Nonfiction Book Review: Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq by Stephen Kinzer". Publishers Weekly. February 20, 2006. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq by Stephen Kinzer". Kirkus Reviews (February 15th, 2006 ed.). Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2019.