Book Overthrow

According to Kinzer, the first such instance was the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893, and continuing to America-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. His examples include mini-histories of the U.S.-supported or encouraged coups d'état in Hawaii, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Nicaragua, Honduras, Iran, Guatemala, South Vietnam, Chile, Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq

Author	Stephen Kinzer
Audio read by	Michael Prichard
Country	United States
Language	English
Subject	United States involvement in regime change
Publisher	Times Books
Publication date	2006
Media type	Print (hardcover and paperback)
Pages	384
ISBN	978-0-8050-7861-9 (hardcover)
OCLC	907615158
Dewey Decimal	327.73009
LC Class	E744 .K49 2006

Some examples used in the book refer to American support for local rebels against the existing national governments that led to a change in power. For example, in 1898, the United States helped to overthrow the government of Cuba by supporting local rebels who were already fighting their government. In other circumstances, such as in Iran, Guatemala, and Chile, Kinzer argues the United States initiated, planned and orchestrated the regime change.

This book talks about things such as how the United States, during its first real coup, decided to remove Nicaraguan President Zelaya from power, over the objections of officials like the United States Ambassador to Nicaragua, Finnegan Courtney, because they wanted the power of the canal. It also says that the United States tricked the Panamanians into independence from Colombia so that they could have the land to build the Panama Canal, and Colombia would not give them the land.

Publishers Weekly wrote that Kinzer "makes a persuasive case that U.S. intervention destabilizes world politics and often leaves countries worse off than they were before."

Kirkus Reviews called it a "sobering and saddening book."