Short answers, pulled from the story.
The average military dictatorship lasts five years, and the average military dictator holds power for three years. Military dictatorships are generally less stable than other regime types because they struggle to build civilian bases of support.
Most military dictatorships form after a coup d'état triggered by perceived threats to the military's institutional interests, such as cuts to funding or civilian interference in promotions. Justifications offered publicly often include government corruption, the threat of communist takeover, or political disorder, though personal motivations such as greed or ethnic conflict also play a role.
A military junta distributes power among a committee of senior officers, typically including the heads of each military branch, and the nominal head remains subject to removal by fellow officers. A strongman seizes power through the military but then consolidates control unilaterally, eventually creating a cult of personality and leaving other officers with no meaningful ability to restrain him.
Latin America and Africa have seen the highest concentrations of military dictatorships. By 1975, half of all African countries were under military rule, and between 1967 and 1991-12 Latin American countries underwent at least one military coup. As of 2023, Africa is the only continent that sees regular military coups.
Military officers are more willing than other dictators to relinquish power because they prioritize preserving the military as an institution. If political involvement damages the military's cohesion or legitimacy, leaders choose to step back. They also retain the option to return to military life, reducing the personal cost of stepping down.
Military dictatorships have been found to engage in torture more frequently than other regime types. Human rights violations are often carried out by paramilitary and civilian police forces created under military rule rather than by the regular military itself. Democracies that emerge from military dictatorships also tend to have higher homicide rates than other democracies.