Changes in Civil-Military Relations in Turkey since the Late 90s

Ever since 1923, when the Turkish Republic was established, the military''s involvement in politics has been a hot topic. The influence of the Turkish Armed Forces is the core of this piece as they have always been very popular and their influence somewhat larger in comparison to typical democratic states. The biggest emphasis will be on the changes in this influence that have occurred since the late 90''s and consequently the explanation of the causes of these changes. It is my goal to concretely answer three research questions: Is today''s state of civil-military relations in Turkey comparable to the usual standards in consolidated democracies? Were changes in the standing of the Turkish Armed Forces caused by internal or external circumstances? Is it possible to interpret those changes as the preparation of the Turkish Republic for entry into the EU?