The End of an Era?

Huge news on the political front in Turkey.  In what has been described by many analysts as a last-ditch effort to assert power over the government, the top leaders of the Turkish military simultaneously resigned Friday.  The Turkish military, particularly its leadership, have historically been considered the guardians of the country's democratic institutions and secular nature.  They have used their unofficial but very real status to depose Turkey's democratically elected governments four times since 1950.  However, military rule in each of these cases was only temporary.  In what are truly exceptional incidences in the history of modern military coups, the military government has always voluntarily stepped down after calling for new elections. 

However, since Prime Minister Erdogan's party, the AKP, was elected in 2002, Mr. Erdogan has made it a priority to curb the power of the military over Turkish politics.  One of his greatest triumphs came in 2004 when a Constitutional amendment gave real power for the first time to the civilian members of the Turkish National Security Council.  The National Security Council was a body created by members of the military government after the 1980 coup to ensure it had a permanent place in the government after it reverted to civilian hands.  The  Council for many years played the role of an oversight committee for any reforms made by Grand National Assembly.  The few civilian members of the Council were there as simple "yes" men until 2004.

The most recent and probably the most damaging challenge to the military's power has come through the investigation of the alleged coup plot, discovered in 2008 and continuing through the present.  As a direct result, at least 10% of the military's top brass has been arrested this year alone.  The imprisonment of so much of its leadership has effectively prevented the military from wielding the influence it once had.  Though I don't doubt that there was a coup plot in the works against the AKP government, I believe the government has used it as a serendipitous excuse to swiftly and effectively silence the military.

The simultaneous resignation of all of the country's top military officers has been explained as protest against the coup plot related arrests in particular and their loss of power more generally.  Unfortunately for them, what was meant to be an exhibit power has in reality been the coup-de-gras for the era of military intervention in Turkish politics.  Without the staunchly secular military checking the power of the Islamist-leaning civilian government, many are afraid of what the future could hold for Turkey.  Mr. Erdogan has been accused of harboring authoritarian tendencies and the desire to impose Shariah-inspired reforms on the Turkish public.  However, since coming to power almost 10 years ago, the AKP has done little to impose Islamic values upon secular or non-Muslim Turks.  If Turkey continues to function as the vibrant democracy it has shown itself to be, then the removal of military influence in the government can only be a positive in the long run.  However, the continued incarceration of elected officials and journalists with opinions unpopular with the ruling party does give cause for worry.  The removal of the military from the sphere of politics gives me great hope for the continued liberalization and democratization of Turkish society but the Turks must remain vigilant and not become complacent about the on going violations of freedom of speech and due process.