Revisiting the Turkish Military and European Union Reforms: 1999-2005

The military’s omnipotent role in Turkish political life following the establishment of the Turkish Republic developed into one of the most significant characteristics of the Turkish political landscape. The armed forces gained significant privileges and strengthened their autonomy within the multi-party era, which saw three coups. However, the EU’s 1999 Helsinki Summit brought about a paradigmatic change in the status of the military, shifting the balance of power in favor of civilians. This piece throws light on the developments that contributed to changing the role of the military in Turkish politics, and details the many factors that contributed to its more receptive approach to the EU democratization reforms. These include the momentum gained in Turkey’s EU accession bid after its declaration as a candidate country in 1999, the AKP government’s reformist and conciliatory stance, Chief of Staff General Hilmi ？zk？k’s adoption of a more liberal version of Kemalism, the maintenance of the guardianship role of the military in the political system, and the emergence of a political environment that was conducive to democratization