CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 52
CONTEMPORARY EURASIA
coup plotters in civilian courts. Besides, no civilians would be trialed in
military courts anymore. Other changes entailed oversight of the parlia-
ment in case of party closures and the enlargement of the constitutional
court. The latter amendment enabled the Prime Minister and the President
to have room for maneuver and appoint loyal people into the constitu-
tional court. 31 Among such loyal people were followers of the Fethullah
Gulen Movement (henceforth FGM). The movement is named after its
founder, Fethullah Gulen, who is considered by some as Turkey’s sec-
ond most powerful man. Gulen and Erdogan were brought together with
their shared Islamic ideologies. At his initial stage of coming to power
Erdogan used the expertise of FGM members in various spheres to run
the country. The AKP and FGM joined eff orts to sideline the military and
after that was achieved a power struggle erupted between the allies. Many
FGM followers were appointed to key positions in the judiciary, which
started a massive prosecution against the military. Many offi cers were ac-
cused of plotting a coup, which was followed by arrests of offi cers and
generals. This was the fi rst time in Turkish history that offi cers were per-
secuted in civilian courts for planning coups. 32 Although most of the ac-
cusations were fabricated, the mere fact was nonetheless important as ci-
vilian rule was able to prove its strength. 33 The military did not resist and
remained silent during these processes. Moreover, in July 2011 the entire
senior command of the military resigned including the Chief of the Gen-
eral Staff . During this period many FGM followers were appointed to po-
sitions in the civil and military spheres in the country. Under the Ergene-
kon accusations many offi cers were trialed, deemed by some as unfairly.
This served to further strengthen the civilian government positions over
the military. In 2013 the alliance between Gulen and Erdogan seemed to
break. Once the common enemy, namely the military, had been weakened
there erupted what seemed to be a power fi ght between the two groups.
Erdogan’s government turned to the persecution FGM followers. The cul-
mination of the fi ght between the once allies seems to have been the 2016
July failed coup attempt. There are still many missing links and unclear
facts about the coup attempt. The main action of the coup followed the
usual plot of arrests of generals and party leaders, takeover of TV stations
etc. The major diff erence was that only a faction of the military partic-
ipated in the coup plot. Many commanders and generals were quick to
announce their loyalty to the government in diff erent parts of Turkey.
31
32
33
“Can Erdogan Pull It off ?,” The Economist, September 11, 2010, www.economist.com/
node/16994644 (accessed March 10, 2018).
Caliskan, “Explaining the end of military,” 105.
Caliskan, Ibid., 106-107.
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