The Trouble With Regime Change
Foreign Affairs • • world
Key Points:
- Recent U.S. attempts at regime change in countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya have largely ended in failure or unintended chaos, highlighting the complexity and risks of such interventions without clear post-ousting plans.
- Historical examples show that successful regime changes, such as post-World War II reconstruction in Germany and Japan, required prolonged occupation and comprehensive nation-building efforts, while Cold War containment policies avoided direct regime change due to high risks.
- The 1989 U.S. intervention in Panama, often cited as a successful model, involved significant military commitment and casualties, underscoring that even seemingly straightforward regime changes are costly and complex.
- Current U.S. considerations regarding Venezuela, Gaza, and Iran reveal a cautious and inconsistent approach to regime change
