Regime change may occur through domestic processes, such as revolution, coup, or reconstruction of government following state failure or civil war.
[2] During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union frequently intervened in elections and engaged in attempts at regime change, both covertly and overtly.
[12] Downes argues,[2]The strategic impulse to forcibly oust antagonistic or non-compliant regimes overlooks two key facts.
First, the act of overthrowing a foreign government sometimes causes its military to disintegrate, sending thousands of armed men into the countryside where they often wage an insurgency against the intervener.
"[13] However, research by Reiter and Goran Peic finds that foreign-imposed regime change can raise the probability of civil war.