ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to analyse the rise of the military to political power in the Arab World. It will deal with the period between 1936, when the first military coup was staged in the Arab World, and 1961, the period of the unsuccessful Lebanese coup. Although many more coups and counter-coups were staged after 1962, they fall outside the scope of this study. The chapter will also consider the basic features and related characteristics of the military coups which occurred during this time.
