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Review of 'Sex, Politics and Putin' by Valerie Sperling

expanding the section pertaining to the effects of social media on coups (pp. 224–227). Singh argues that Twitter and Facebook cannot alone make facts—traditional media remain much more powerful in shaping expectations and structuring officers’ reactions to coup attempts. Consequently, the rise of social media does not necessarily alter coups dynamics, according to Singh. Coups, of course, have been staged in the social media age (e.g. Egypt in 2013; Thailand in 2014). Is it true that the effect of social media was negligible on the unfolding of recent military takeovers? This is an important question and it requires an empirical answer which is nowhere to be found in the book. In the final analysis, however, Singh’s work remains impressive. This reviewer would not be surprised if Seizing Power quickly establishes itself as a must-read for students of coups and military politics in the years to come.