The Generals - Definition and Overview

The Generals is a common nickname that is often applied to the rulers of a military dictatorship as in a Junta.

While some military dictatorships are led by a prominent, charismatic leader (such as Augusto Pinochet in Chile, Franco in Spain, or Suharto in Indonesia) others are less hierarchical, and have leadership concentrated in vaguely defined "councils," often with frequently changing leaders or "chairmen." In such circumstances, many in the media and elsewhere will refer to these nations as being run by "The Generals", as in "The Generals of Argentina". Other variants include the "Colonels' Regime" of interwar Poland or the rule of "The Colonels" in Greece from 1967 to 1974.

Nations that have experienced the rule of "The Generals" include Argentina, Turkey, Nigeria, South Vietnam, and Burma.

See Also

• Military rule