Abstract
This paper explores how the Turkish case speaks to the contemporary discussions regarding the relations between the police and the military. These discussions have been at the forefront of newly emerging literature which has fundamentally focused on explaining the evolution of the police-military relations in a Western context, seen from a global perspective. This paper, on the other hand, suggests that besides global trends, internal power struggles among security institutions should also be taken into consideration. Turkey provides a unique case for such research as it has experienced a long period of military involvement in domestic issues; yet, this military tutelage is effectively challenged by the civilianization process currently conducted by the political power. This paper investigates the political evolution of these two institutions during the period from 1980 up until now. The conclusion, it claims, is that there are <em>competing</em> rather than <em>blurring</em> boundaries between these two institutions.
Highlights
A regular army and a police force are essential elements of a state’s coercive apparatus
Turkey has experienced a long period of military involvement in politics; yet, this military tutelage is effectively challenged by the transformation of civil-military relations among security institutions in the country
This paper indicates that the nature of the police-military relations in Turkey for the most part has been affected and shaped by the Turkish political and historical experience
Summary
A regular army and a police force are essential elements of a state’s coercive apparatus. The political issues states are confronting today have become much more complex and have both internal and external dimensions Apart from such global trends concerning the changing security environment, the political landscape of each country matters when considering the police-military interface. There exists a neglected dimension of this global trend: the socio-political context of some developing countries – especially the ones whose political history is full of military interventions and where the army appears as a political actor – furthers the primacy of power struggles at the national level at the expense of global trends In this respect, this paper explores the police-military relations in the Turkish case in order to understand whether it is possible to talk about a potential blurring of police and military functions due to globally changing security trends or rather competing military-police roles as a reflection of power struggles. It demonstrates that, contrary to global trends, a new trend emerges in Turkey as the complexities of Turkish civil-military relations evolve at the expense of the Turkish military
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