ABSTRACT
The year 1962 opened with brisk outbursts of military revolt. Four risings—those in the Lebanon, Portugal, Turkey and Venezuela—were unsuccessful, but the month of March witnessed three victorious revolts in quick succession. In Burma, General Ne Win deposed the government and established direct military rule. The date of the unsuccessful Lebanon rising, between the last day of the old year and the first day of the new, was symbolical: in all this military activity, 1962 was but continuing where 1961 had left off. For 1961 was also a busy one for the armed forces. Independent political activity by the armed forces is therefore frequent, widespread, and of long standing. This political activity of the military is persistent. The regime of military provenance or direct military rule is, in short, a distinctive kind of regime; and the military as an independent political force is a distinctive political phenomenon.
