Turkish Politics And The Military

The article discusses the role of the military in Turkish politics, particularly in the context of its geographical position and its international standing. The author argues that the Turkish military has played a unique role in the country, acting as a guardian of the state and promoting economic and social modernization. The article also provides a historical perspective on the evolution of the military's role in politics, from the establishment of the Republic to the military coups of 1960 and 1980, and the gradual return to civilian government. The focus is on the military's involvement in politics rather than its professional duties.

Turkey's geographical position, between the Middle East and Europe and at the centre of the current upheavals in the USSR and the Balkans, has led to a reawakening of interest in its international standing. Meanwhile its domestic politics are of increasing interest and Turkey seems to have become a model for liberal democracy in Central Asia. David Hale focuses on the role of the military in contemporary politics. He argues that the military has behaved quite differently from its counterparts in other third world states: it has acted in some degree as a guardian of the state, committed to economic and social modernization. The book places contemporary politics in perspective by looking at the evolution of the armed forces in Turkey from the end of the 18th century. The author traces the role of the military through the establishment of the Republic, the military coups of 1960 and 1980, the gradual return to civilian government of the 1960s and 1970s, and the military disengagement from politics of 1983 onwards. Hale focuses on the army as an actor in the political drama rather than in the professional functions of soldiers.