The Turkish Military's March toward Europe

Turkey’s accession to the European Union has long been an issue of great debate. Some questioned the EU’s willingness to welcome such a large, poor, and culturally country as a member; others have wondered whether Turkey can transform itself to meet the EU’s demands. Yet much of this talk has overlooked the Turkish , even though it is a key player in the process thanks to its critical role in founding Turkey, its continued popularity within Turkish society, and its uniquely voice in politics. None of the reforms the EU still requires of the Turkish can be achieved without the military’s backing. Recent changes have already curbed the power of the Turkish military in several of its traditional areas of and reduced its long-standing authority in some civilian institutions. Not all of adjustments have been greeted with open arms, but the Turkish General Staff (TGS) largely complied with the EU’s demands even though doing so has forced it to let go power it had felt necessary to build up and carefully guard for decades.