Military Coups and Turkish Democracy, 1960-1980

In 1921, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk enunciated an important verity.(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.