Civil-Military Relations in Turkey: Changes in President’s Approach to the Armed Forces (2015-2018)

This dissertation analyzes the contemporary civil – military relations of Turkey through the changes observed in president’s approach to Armed Forces and along with the changes that were observed in the civil-military relations of Turkey under different context of time period and emerged critical developments among the years of 2015 and 2018. When the security crisis were highly developed in the country, like: ‘ISIS, PKK Attacks, Cross -border operations against terror groups, July 15 FETO’s Coup Attempt etc.’, and by observing the changes that came with transition into presidential system by 2018 in Turkey. Hence, this study found that, despite of the series of challenges that’re developed in the country and despite of the former controversial relations of civil government /president and the military forces; during the analyzed years, the contentious relations of the past have changed into a more good, sincere and amicable frame by having a very cooperative relations between president and the army with further normalization and improvement of their relations along with president’s demonstration of a very cordial and friendly approach to Army.