History Main / RegimeChange

[[folder:Film]]

* In ''The War at Troy'' and ''Return from Troy'', two novels by Lindsey Clarke based on the Literature/TrojanCycle, the Greeks installed the Trojan priest and advisor, Antenor, in power after overthrowing Priam's dynasty. This is in exchange for Antenor's help in tricking the Trojans into accepting the Trojan Horse.

Those establishing and supporting regime change often see it as overthrowing an EvilOverlord and serving the cause of SlaveLiberation. They expect LaResistance to greet them as liberators and may even be collaborating with them prior to invasion. Those fighting may have to [[EarnYourHappyEnding earn their happy ending]], but it will be worth it. And since the story is likely to end with an assumption of HappilyEverAfter, there will be little need to consider [[HappilyEverBefore what would happen next]]. The historical TropeCodifier is Allied victory in UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo, and most positive fictional stories about regime change since then are implicitly modeled after it.''[[note]]Unless they are from continental Europe or Asia, in which they are more likely to tell the story of LaResistance.[[/note]]''

Those opposing regime change will see it differently. In this case, those imposing regime change are either an invading army from TheEmpire or a GreaterScopeVillain [[TheChessmaster pulling the political strings from far away]]. Even when good-intentioned, regime change will likely include endangering and killing InnocentBystanders. The newly installed regime will be viewed as TheQuisling, aided by LesCollaborateurs and abetted by ApatheticCitizens. Rather than working with the foreign power, LaResistance is, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin resisting]] and demanding the OccupiersOutOfOurCountry. Given that, the occupation will likely become a TroubledProduction, and even those from the regime changing country may come to [[HeelRealization question or reject their own “liberating” mission]].

* {{Defied}} in ''Franchise/StarTrek''. The PrimeDirective was written in part as a reaction to situations like the CIA-led coup in Iran in 1954 to forbid the Federation from interfering in the governance of other countries.

* {{Discussed}} in ''Fanfic/{{Myrmidons}}'' with regards to the Dominion. It is suggested by a few characters that winning the war with the Hur'q may require the Female Changeling to be removed from power--though Admiral Chamberlain is appalled when Rear Admiral Kanril Eleya asks him to clarify whether he's suggesting she do so (the PrimeDirective normally forbids it). The story became a DeadFic before the canonical point where [[spoiler:a Hur'q killed her, effectively making the decision for them]].

[[folder:Fanfiction]]

* ''[[https://www.alternatehistory.com/wiki/doku.php?id=timelines:tl-191_after_the_end Timeline-191: After the End]]'' sees foreign-backed regime changes engineered in order to end the racial {{Civil War}}s in Rhodesia and South Africa. In the case of the former, the OSS (this timeline's CIA) merely enables a MilitaryCoup by moderate officers sick of the radicals running the government. The latter, however, results in a full-scale invasion by the [[UnitedEurope European Community]] to topple the remnants of the apartheid government and restore order to the country.

* The British didn't like it that the Iranian prime minister Mossadeq nationalized their big oil company, so they toppled the democratically-elected government and installed the autocratic Shah. Many of the Iranians didn't like that the Shah was modernizing the country, so they toppled him and installed the Ayatollah Khomeini leading an Islamist regime. America doesn't like the current Islamist government, [[HereWeGoAgain so...]]

* ''ComicBook/StarWarsDarthVader'': When the King of Shu-Torun rebels against the Empire, Vader kills him and his equally rebellious sons, and places his more compliant daughter Trios on the throne.

Enter Regime Change. The term became popularized during the run-up to the [[WarOnTerror US invasion of Iraq in 2003]], but [[OlderThanFeudalism has long been a part of international politics]]. It can come in different forms:

Since Regime Change is essentially a mix between about interstate war and domestic revolution, expect many RebelTropes and MilitaryAndWarfareTropes to apply. For a rebel analog that captures the moral ambiguity that can accompany Regime Change, see YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters. In stories set in the real world, expect the UsefulNotes/{{CIA}} to play a prominent role if the regime changer is more of a HiddenVillain.

Those opposing regime change will see it differently. In this case, those imposing regime change are either an invading army from TheEmpire or a GreaterScopeVillain [[{{Puppetmaster}} pulling the political strings from far away]]. Even when good-intentioned, regime change will likely include endangering and killing InnocentBystanders. The newly installed regime will be viewed as TheQuisling, aided by LesCollaborateurs and abetted by ApatheticCitizens. Rather than working with the foreign power, LaResistance is, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin resisting]] and demanding the OccupiersOutOfOurCountry. Given that, the occupation will likely become a TroubledProduction, and even those from the regime changing country may come to [[HeelRealization question or reject their own “liberating” mission]].

* ''Film/LandOfTheBlind'': The dictator is killed and his regime overthrown, but the revolution turns out just as bad or worse.

* The British didn't like it that the Iranian prime minister Mossadeq nationalized their big oil company, so they toppled the democratically-elected government and installed the autocratic Shah. Ayatollah Khomeini didn't like it that foreign infidels were controlling the country, so he toppled the British-backed government and installed the Islamist revolutionaries. America doesn't like the current Islamist government, [[HereWeGoAgain so...]]

* Look at the history of Latin America, and see which change of government ''doesn't'' have CIA involvement behind it. You will be hard-pressed to make it a long list.
* The British didn't like it that the Iranian prime minister Mossadeq nationalized their big oil, so they toppled the democratically elected government and installed the Shah. Ayatollah Khomeini didn't like it that foreign infidels are dictating the country, so he toppled the British-backed government and installed the Islamist revolutionaries. [[HereWeGoAgain America didn't like the Islamist government, so... eh, nevermind.]]

## [[DecapitationRequired Decapitation]] through [[AssassinationAttempt assassination]].

-> ''“'It was assumed that the dramatic ouster of [[UsefulNotes/SaddamHussein Saddam]] would create a “Film/WizardOfOz moment” in Iraq', recalled Carl Strock, the two-star general from the Army Corps of Engineers … After the wicked dictator was deposed, throngs of cheering Iraqis would hail their liberators and go back to work under [American] tutelage … It was, Strock acknowledged, a ‘simplistic approach’. But, simplistic or not, the strategy had been embraced by [[UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush the White House]].”''

Enter RegimeChange. The term became popularized during the run-up to the [[WarOnTerror US invasion of Iraq in 2003]], but [[OlderThanFeudalism has long been a part of international politics]]. It can come in different forms:

Since RegimeChange is essentially a mix between about interstate war and domestic revolution, expect many RebelTropes and MilitaryAndWarfareTropes to apply. For a rebel analog that captures the moral ambiguity that can accompany RegimeChange, see YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters. In stories set in the real world, expect the UsefulNotes/{{CIA}} to play a prominent role if the regime changer is more of a HiddenVillain.

* In ''Film/WizardOfOz'', Dorothy does this accidentally when she [[ImMelting throws water on the Wicked Witch of the West]]. Once [[BigBad the witch]] is dead, even her guards are glad to be free of her tyranny. Dorothy leaves the Scarecrow to run Oz after she returns to Kansas.

Since RegimeChange is essentially a mix between about interstate war and domestic revolution, expect many RebelTropes and MilitaryAndWarfareTropes to apply. For a rebel analog that captures the moral ambiguity that can accompany RegimeChange, see YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters. In stories set in the real world, expect the {{CIA}} to play a prominent role if the regime changer is more of a HiddenVillain.

Those establishing regime change often see and promote themselves as overthrowing an EvilOverlord and serving the cause of SlaveLiberation. They expect LaResistance to greet them as liberators and may even be collaborating with them prior to invasion. Those fighting may have to [[EarnYourHappyEnding earn their happy ending]], but it will be worth it. And since the story is likely to end with an assumption of HappilyEverAfter, there will be little need to consider [[HappilyEverBefore what would happen next]]. The historical TropeCodifier is Allied victory in UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo, and most positive fictional stories about regime change since then are implicitly modeled after it.''[[note]]Unless they are from continental Europe or Asia, in which they are more likely to tell the story of LaResistance.[[/note]]''