Europeanization as institutional change: the case of the Turkish military

Abstract:

Institutional change has become a primary issue in recent institutionalist literature. By analyzing the civilianization process of the Turkish political system in the context of the Europeanization process, this study attempts another theoretical answer. The puzzling question is why the Turkish military, a veto player in the Turkish political system, has accepted its loss of power? This study shows that the military, which expressed its commitment to further integration with the EU on several occasions, found itself 'rhetorically entrapped'. Thus, the military refrained from blocking the civilianization process due to the likely damage such an action would cause to its ideational interests (legitimacy and credibility).