CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VII (1, 2) Contemporary-Eurasia-3new | Page 53

HRANUSH DERMOYAN
The aftermath of the coup was not diff erent from previous coups as
it was followed by large-scale purges. The failed coup attempt was used
to crack down on anyone who was perceived as pro-Gulen and deemed
as unwanted by the government. In the immediate aftermath of the coup
attempt around thousands of military offi cers were detained, judges were
removed and detained for their alleged role in the coup on July 16th.
Over the week following the coup attempt already 7,500 military offi cers
had been arrested; the number of suspended police offi cers was about
8,000, and 1,000 were imprisoned; 21,000 teachers lost their teaching li-
censes and fi fteen universities ceased to operate. In addition, a ban was
placed on all civil servants and academics to leave the country. 34 This sit-
uation was ideal for Erdogan to purge the state from the Gulenists, who
were once his allies in weakening the political powers of the military. The
events of July 15 and its aftermath will have an important and long-last-
ing impact on civil-military relations.
Upon studying the military interventions in Turkey a certain pattern
becomes evident. The military intervened whenever there was instability
in the country, whenever any of the principles of Kemalism were threat-
ened and whenever the interests of the military itself seemed to be under
attack. In 1960, 1980 and 2016 although unsuccessful) the military inter-
vened directly with the deployment of soldiers. In 1971, 1997 and 2007
the interventions were indirect and did not cause any clashes. After the in-
terventions of 1960, 1971 and 1980 the military consolidated more power
and increased its levers of infl uence. In terms of the aftermath of coups,
in the extent of purges, the 1980 aftermath and 2016 one were similar,
albeit revised roles. The further unfolding of events will show whether
the pattern has been broken and whether the civilian government has once
and for all established control over the military.
EU Reforms and the Military
Although the government of Erdogan cracked down on the military
using allegations of coup plots, which by some are considered to be fabri-
cated (at least some of them) more legitimate levers, like reforms prompt-
ed by the prospect of EU membership were also used to curb the power
of the military. Already in 1997, with Agenda 2000, which was the ac-
tion plan for preparing the EU for further enlargement, Turkey was sin-
gled out among other aspiring countries because of the Turkish military’s
34
Francesco Milan, “Turkey: What hides behind a failed coup attempt,” The RUSI Jour-
nal 161, no. 4 (2016): 30-31.
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