When a dictator wants to stay in power, it helps to find an external enemy, whether real or not, to direct the attention of the country to it; rather than let the population focus on the dictatorship's erosion of civil liberties and democracy.

A failed coup allows a dictator to identify its enemies and get rid of them. The more paranoid will take advantage of the situation to get rid of more than just enemies, but anyone that doesn't align ideologically. With no enemies left, the dictator stays put for life.

Call me out if Erdogan leaves power alive.