Military Coups and Turkish Democracy, 1960–1980

In 1921, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk enunciated an important verity.Footnote 1 He proclaimed, “We resemble ourselves.” Nowhere is that more true than in regard to the Turkish military's role in politics. As many have pointed out, the Turkish armed forces have not behaved as a South American model might have suggested. Nor have they acted as Middle Eastern or North African military establishments would have. Instead the institution has taken a course consistent with Turkey's history and culture.