Left and Army in Turkey (1960-1971)

"One of the most fundamental questions of this study was whether the socialists' view of the army would provide us with data about the structure, development and ultimately the dynamics of the weakening of the Turkish left. I think it does. One of the important results of the research is that evaluations of the role of the army constitute the main point of division within the left."

Should the socialist revolution happen immediately or is it too early? Will the leading force of the revolutionary struggle be "those with strong hands" or "strong forces"? In the period of approximately ten years, from May 27 to March 12, the most lively discussions of left circles were shaped around these questions. Many movements attributed a progressive and revolutionary role to the army in the understanding of socialism infused with the Kemalist legacy, while some maintained their belief in organizing the revolution through democratic means.

In this comprehensive study, Özgür Mutlu Ulus examines the approaches of the left movements in the political scene between 1960 and 1971 to the army and the junta, while also devoting extensive space to the theoretical debates between them; He argues that the view of the army is one of the basic elements that determine the political understanding and practices of leftist circles. He enriches the panorama he presents of the left movements of the period with interviews with important figures from socialist circles.
(From the Promotional Bulletin)



Number of Pages: 408

Year of Printing: 2016


Language: Turkish
Publisher: Iletisim Publishing

Number of Pages: 408

First Print Year: 2016

Language Turkish