Populist Regime‑Change as Spectacle

When populist executives pursue regime change abroad, the policy can function primarily as domestic political theatre—designed to signal toughness, rally a base, and reframe national identity—rather than as a calibrated geopolitical strategy. That dynamic raises the risk of entanglement, escalation, and policy incoherence because spectacle privileges optics over exit plans, post‑conflict governance, and allied coordination. — Naming and tracking 'populist regime‑change as spectacle' helps public debate focus on the domestic incentives behind wars and the practical governance risks they create.