The 2016 coup attempt in Turkey: a result of changing civil-military balance in Turkey

Security issues in Eurasia

  • Hranush Dermoyan American University of Armenia
Keywords: civil-military relations, coup attempt, fragmentation

Abstract

In 2016 Turkey made headlines with yet another coup, however, this time with an unsuccessful outcome. While there were many similarities with previous coups, there were also major differences. After the failed coup, people showed unprecedented support for the civilian government. Military commanders of different units made statements assuring their loyalty to the civilian government. Although purges, martial law and arrest followed the coup attempt, which was nothing new after a military intervention, this time roles had been reversed. It was the civilian government which purged the military and removed unwanted people. The paper argues that the 2016 military coup attempt failed as the military’s political power had been weakened following reforms implemented under the demand of the EU in the 2000s. There was also obvious fragmentation in the military as only one faction participated in the plot.

Author Biography

Hranush Dermoyan, American University of Armenia

 

Hranush Dermoyan

MA in Political Science and International Affairs, American University of Armenia. Main field of research is the Turkish coup attempt of 2016, its differences from previous coups and similarities, civil-military relations theories and their peculiarities in the Turkish case.

Published
2018-09-01