kukistaminen

Kukistaminen is a Finnish political term describing the act or process of overthrowing a government, regime, or political leader. It derives from kukistaa, meaning to topple or defeat. In political science, kukistaminen denotes a change of power that eliminates the incumbent authority, often through force, coercion, or non-democratic means. It can refer to a military coup, an armed uprising, or a nonviolent removal that undermines legitimacy, such as a forced resignation following mass protests or a constitutional process that effectively removes a ruler.

The mechanisms of kukistaminen vary. They can be abrupt, as in a coup d'état or a military seizure, or occur through legal and political channels that erode the regime’s control, such as impeachment, resignation under pressure, or a negotiated transfer of power. In many cases, kukistaminen creates a power vacuum and triggers political instability, while in others it leads to rapid reform or a change toward different governance.

The consequences depend on context and legitimacy. Some episodes result in stabilization and democratic opening, others in civil conflict or authoritarian consolidation. International responses depend on recognition of the new authority and views on the legitimacy of the change; in international law, the use of force to overthrow a government is generally regarded as illegitimate unless undertaken in narrowly defined circumstances, whereas internal political changes are treated as domestic affairs. Kukistaminen is thus a broad concept that overlaps with coups, revolutions, and significant shifts in political authority.