The anatomy of the Turkish military's political autonomy

The historically strategic position of the Turkish military in safeguarding state unity has been the most important factor in determining the parameters of its political involvement. The military has maintained a privileged position toward civilian groups by initiating and vetoing political issues while staying outside the democratic control of civilian governments. Civilian rule after 1983 expanded and constitutionally bolstered the military's political autonomy. The Turkish military's central political role is the outcome of historical-structural and behavioral parameters of military-civilian interaction.