What is a Putschist? Definition, Examples, and Consequences

Putschist is a term used to describe a person who supports or engages in a coup d'état, which is a sudden overthrow of an existing government, typically through the use of force or illegal means. The term is derived from the German word "Putsch," which means "coup" or "revolution."

In political science, a putschist is someone who advocates for or participates in a putsch, which is a rapid and often secretive attempt to seize power from a government or leader. Putschists may be members of a military or paramilitary group, political party, or other organization that seeks to overthrow the existing order.

The term is often used pejoratively to describe individuals or groups who are seen as attempting to undemocratically seize power or overthrow a legitimate government. It can also be used to describe actions or policies that are seen as destabilizing or threatening to the existing political order.

Examples of putschists include:

* The conspirators who attempted to overthrow German Chancellor Willy Brandt in the 1970s, known as the "Brandtputsch."
* The military officers who staged a coup in Chile in 1973, led by General Augusto Pinochet.
* The Islamist extremists who attempted to overthrow the government of Egypt in 2013, known as the "Sisi putsch."

In each of these cases, the individuals or groups involved were seen as seeking to undermine the existing political order through illegal or violent means, and were therefore labeled as putschists.