The Pete Quiñones Show Pete Reads 'Coup D'état' by Edward N. Luttwak with Guests - Complete Part 2 of 2
Mar 4, 2026
Christopher Sandbatch, a cultural and historical commentator, and John Fieldhouse, a military historian, join a deep reading of Luttwak’s manual on seizing power. They discuss neutralizing police and paramilitary forces, seizing communications and transport, targeting political personalities and institutions, tactics for isolating loyalists, and how unions and religious groups can influence outcomes.
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Religious Networks Can Mobilize Rapid Resistance
- Organized religions remain powerful where they have networks and local presence; control of church radio or parish networks can thwart a coup.
- Lutwak uses the Catholic Church in Italy to illustrate centralized influence through bishops and parishes.
Jihadis Mix Ancient Claims With Modern Media Effectiveness
- Jihadi movements combine religio-political aims with modern media savvy and committed volunteers, making them asymmetric and resilient threats.
- Lutwak notes jihadis recruit skilled Western volunteers and use media techniques despite rejecting Western culture.
Party Type Determines Postcoup Threat And Response
- Lutwak classifies political parties into machine, insurrectional, parabureaucratic, and developed-country parties to assess coup risk and required responses.
- He recommends largely ignoring machine parties during the active phase because elections freeze their leverage.
