Merriam-Webster defines “coup d’état” as: “…a sudden decisive exercise of force in politics, especially…the violent overthrow or alteration of an existing government by a small group.”
Donald Trump’s rhetoric and threats about not accepting the will of the people, and in essence pursuing his own coup d’état in the upcoming election, may prove to be bluster, or dangerous precedent.
Will of the people is a clear and compelling cornerstone of our republic, and has proven many times to be the prevailing factor in US crises. But will of the people also has changed the world elsewhere.
One of the most poignant examples of how powerful will of the people can be is the abortive 1991 Soviet Coup, when a group of eight hard-liners attempted to unseat the increasingly freedom-oriented government of Mikhail Gorbachev. The plotters failed, in large part, because the will of the people in the streets of Moscow prevented the hardliners and their supporters from completing the overthrow.
Here are five lessons learned from that Coup that can help ensure that the will of the people in the upcoming election is honored and obeyed:
Go the extra mile(s) to ensure your vote counts.
In the Soviet Coup, Muscovites voted with their actions in the streets. Notes a report in Russia-direct.org: “…the very fact that Muscovites, who shared democratic values, responded to Yeltsin’s calls, accounts for the failure of the coup. And this was a very powerful force, which brought together hundreds of thousands of people who – since late 1989 – had been participating in demonstrations.” Be proactive and do everything reasonably possible to make your vote count. For example, if voting by mail, deliver your ballot directly to the governing authority that will count the votes. Avoid USPS and don’t give your ballot to someone claiming to represent one candidate or the other—who offers to deliver it—without absolute proof.
Don’t give Trump more fodder for his “law and order” tirade.
The Soviet Coup used the excuse of law and order. Notes Russia-direct.org: “It brought together the highest-ranking leaders of the former Soviet Union, including Vice President Gennady Yanayev and Prime Minister Valentin Pavlov, who tried to orchestrate the coup d’état in an attempt to prevent ‘the disintegration of the country.’” Violent demonstrations just add fuel to Trump’s fire and his effort to scare people into voting for him. If/where possible, take all the energy currently being put into demonstrating to educate/inform voters about Trump’s egregious disregard for law and order in his words and actions.
Do something, anything.
Every person and effort make a difference. Don’t feel hopeless. Find a way to help. If you influence even one person, take the initiative and sense of accomplishment from making a contribution. Notes Britannica.com: “The ‘gang of eight’ had not grasped that democratization had made public opinion important and that the population would no longer meekly obey orders from above.” Russia-direct.org adds: “Since the coup failed, it means the initiators simply overestimated their power and influence and underestimated the response from their opponents.” Don’t underestimate your power to influence and change the world.
Use social media/mass communication every way you can.
This relates to #3 above. The Soviet Coup proved how seemingly innocuous forces can change the world. I know, because I was in the middle of one such event. A fledgling business newswire called Interfax US based in Moscow and Denver suddenly became the only major news link to what was going on with the Soviet Coup, and shared that information with the rest of the world. They became the primary link between news networks and the White House—as well as the world-at-large. Interfax US found itself in this unlikely position because the KGB—which had shut off communications elsewhere— couldn’t shut down their novel communications network that used something called “email.”
In part because of these reports, which were broadcast back into the streets of Moscow, the Coup failed. At least that’s the assessment of David Saltman, a Good Morning America Today producer, who told the Interfax US crew (myself included) about their pivotal role in changing the world.
I was there because I had been brought in to handle media relations and PR for Interfax US during the Coup. When Good Morning America, which ultimately interviewed Interfax US VP Pamela Lush, asked me to provide a one-paragraph summary of why she should be on the show, I used the example of The Little Engine That Could. Here was a brand new business news service propelled overnight onto the world’s stage as a history-changing news service. They thought they could…and they did. You can, too.
Enlist the support of influential clergy and religious groups.
During the Soviet Coup, opponent Boris Yeltsin got an influential religious endorsement. Notes Britannica.com: “Yeltsin appealed to the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Aleksey II, to condemn the coup. The patriarch criticized Gorbachev’s detention and anathematized those involved in the plot.”
That process, underway to support Biden, needs to go full-tilt boogie now, capitalizing on current efforts described in Religionnews.com: “Liberal-leaning Christian groups and faith leaders have formed a slate of new political action committees and initiatives in recent weeks, most of which criticize the president in ways that could help Democrats with religious voters come November…The Network team plans to run ads arguing that Trump is not ‘pro-life’ because of his support for the death penalty and what they say is his failure to act on issues like poverty.”
As was learned from the 1991 Soviet Coup, the will of the people can prevail. It’s time for all of us to give our all to make sure it happens in the upcoming election.
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Gray Flannel Head 