TURKEY AS A REGIONAL POWER: FACTOR OF THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CHANGES OF THEARMED FORCES ROLE

  • Oleg Aleksandrov
  • Hanna Zamikula
Keywords: Turkish Republic, armed forces, military coup, The Justice and Development Party, secularization, Ergenekon

Abstract

The current article analyzes the influence of the Turkish armed forces on the political life of the Republic of Turkey. The prerequisites for the formation of the special role of the army as the defender of the achievements of the Kemalist revolution are being considered. Examples of direct – military coups of 1960 and 1980 – and indirect – officers’ actions in 1971-1973 and 1997 – intervention of generals in politics are being studied. The consequences of these actions are being analyzed. Special attention is given to the causes and factors that led to the defeat of the army in the fight against the Justice and Development Party in the XXI century, when the high commands’ attempt to prevent moderate Islamists from obtaining power has failed. Instead, democratic change in Turkish society, repression initiated against the armed forces and amendments adopted to the national legislation led to a significant reduction of military influence on the political life of the state, clearly demonstrated during a failed coup of July 2016.

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Published
2018-08-21
How to Cite
Aleksandrov, O., & Zamikula, H. (2018). TURKEY AS A REGIONAL POWER: FACTOR OF THE INTERNAL POLITICAL CHANGES OF THEARMED FORCES ROLE. Strategic Priorities, 40(3), 54-61. Retrieved from https://niss-priority.com/index.php/journal/article/view/129