Since the end of World War II, there have been 225 successful coups (counting the events in Zimbabwe) in countries with populations greater than 500,000, according to the Center for Systemic Peace, which maintains extensive datasets on various forms of armed conflict and political violence. Most coups occurred during the height of the Cold War, from the 1960s through the 1980s.
The crisis in Syria is the first mega-story to break since Al Jazeera America debuted on August 20. A new report on coverage of the evolving Syria story examines how the newest cable channel stacked up with such competitors as CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and BBC America.