Military Intervention and a Crisis of Democracy in Turkey: The Menderes Era and its Demise (Library of Modern Turkey)

"Adnan Menderes' election to power in 1950 signalled a new epoch in the history of modern Turkey. For the first time a democratic government ruled the country, taking over Kemal Ataturk's political heirs, the People's Republican Party (CHP), and challenging the Kemalist elite's monopoly on the control of state institutions and society itself. However, this period was short-lived. In 1960, Turkey's army staged a coup d'etat and Menderes was hanged the following year. Here, Mogens Pelt beings by examining the era of the rule of the Democratic Party, and what led to its downfall. Among the chief accusations raised against Menderes by the army was that he had undermined the principles of the founder of modern Turkey, Ataturk, and that he had exploited religion for political purposes. Military Intervention and a Crisis Democracy in Turkey furthermore, and crucially, examines the legacy of the military intervention that brought this era of democratic rule to an end. Although the armed forces officially returned power to the civilians in 1961, this intervention - indeed, this crisis of democracy - allowed the military to become a major player in Turkey's political process, weakening the role of elected politicians. The officer corps claimed that the army was the legal guardian of Kemalism, and that it had the right and duty to intervene again, if the circumstances proscribed it and when it deemed that the values of Ataturk were threatened. Indeed, these were precisely that ground on which the armed forces justified its coup d'etats of 1971 and 1980. This unique exploration of the Menderes period sheds new light on the shaping of post-war Turkey and will be vital for those researching the Turkish Republic, and the influence of the military in its destiny."--Bloomsbury publishing. Examines The Era Of The Democratic Party In Turkey, From Its Takeover From The People's Republican Party (chp) With Menderes' Election In 1950, To Its End With The Turkish Army's Coup In 1960. Also Studies The Legacy Of Military Intervention In Turkish Politics. The Democratic Party Versus The Heirs To The One-party Regime. The Democratic Party ; The Kemalist Revolution And The Ottoman Past ; Challenges To The One-party Regime In A Changing World ; Menderes And Counter-kemalist Currents ; The Kemalists Hit Back -- Menderes' Foreign Policy. The Cyprus Issue ; Turkey And The Attempts To Tie The Middle East To The West ; A New Cold War Front Line : Turkey Versus Syria -- The Military Versus The Democratic Party And The Role Of Chp. The Road To The 27 May Coup ; The Military And Menderes ; The 27 May Coup D'état And Military Regime ; Transition From Military Regime To Civilian Government -- Conclusion And Perspectives. The Menderes Era And Its Demise. Mogens Pelt. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Adnan Menderes' election to power in 1950 signalled a new epoch in the history of modern Turkey. For the first time a democratic government ruled the country, challenging the political monopoly of the Kemalist elites. This title explores the Menderes period, shedding light on the shaping of post-war Turkey.