A Historical Perspective on the July 2016 Coup Attempt in Turkey

Abstract:

This paper sets out the historical background to the 15 July 2016 coup attempt. It outlines the Turkish armed forces’ age-old interventionist tendencies and argues that this is driven by three overlapping impetuses.

The first is concerns over its civilian colleagues’ policy towards external threats and internal dissent. The second is the military’s promotion of its own version of Islamic practice and identity. The third is its determination to protect and, where possible, advance its economic interests.