Regime Change
It’s Been Done Before
(Policy Exchange)
.jpg "Regime Change It’s Been Done Before (Policy Exchange)")
Regime Change : It's Been Done Before adalah judul dari sebuah makalah diskusi yang diterbitkan oleh wadah pemikir (think tank) asal Inggris, Policy Exchange, pada tahun 2003.
Berikut informasi utama dari dokumen tersebut :
- Definisi Perubahan Rezim: Penulis mendefinisikannya sebagai pemutusan hubungan yang tajam dengan personel, struktur, dan kebijakan sistem politik yang lama.
- Kekuatan Eksternal vs Internal: Makalah ini mencatat bahwa meskipun istilah tersebut sering dikaitkan dengan intervensi militer luar (seperti retorika Presiden Bush saat itu), banyak perubahan rezim dramatis justru dipicu oleh kekuatan internal, seperti jatuhnya blok Soviet dan berakhirnya apartheid di Afrika Selatan.
- Tujuan Demokratisasi: Di tingkat retorika politik AS pada masa itu, perubahan rezim tidak hanya berarti penggantian kekuasaan melalui intervensi eksternal, tetapi juga implikasi transformasi menuju demokratisasi.
Publikasi ini dirilis pada masa-masa awal Perang Irak, saat perdebatan mengenai legalitas dan efektivitas menggulingkan pemerintahan asing sedang berada di puncaknya.
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| Photo : Roger Gough |
"Regime Change: It’s Been Done Before" is a publication from the British think tank Policy Exchange that critically examines the history and consequences of foreign-imposed regime change. It positions regime change as an ancient practice the toppling of dangerous or repellent rulers while questioning the moral and strategic justifications used by intervening powers. The work specifically analyzes these interventions in the context of the Iraq War and broader international relations.
Key Themes of the Publication
- Historical Continuity: The report argues that regime change is not a modern invention but a recurring historical phenomenon. It notes that while justifications often center on removing "wicked" rulers, history shows that such actions have been carried out by various powers including Hitler and Stalin for their own strategic interests.
- The "Who Says?" Dilemma: A central question posed is the legitimacy of the intervening party. It challenges the assumption that external forces are guided by universal moral standards when deciding which regimes to topple.
- Consequences and Instability: The publication highlights the dangers of external intervention, noting that removing a government often leads to unforeseen consequences, state instability, and long-term societal damage.
Broader Context of Regime Change
Beyond the specific Policy Exchange document, scholarly and policy discussions on the topic generally highlight the following :
- High Failure Rates: Experts frequently note that foreign-imposed regime change has a dismal track record. Operations are often more successful at removing a specific leader than at building a stable, democratic successor government.
- Strategic Risks: History ranging from Cold War interventions in Latin America and Iran to 21st-century actions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya demonstrates that such policies often result in prolonged conflict, insurgencies, or the creation of power vacuums.
- Definition: Academically, regime change is defined as the replacement of a government or its governing apparatus by external actors, typically through military force, coercive diplomacy, or covert intervention.
