Democracy or Stability: The US Policy Towards Turkish Experiment in Democracy 1945-1980

Year 2024, Issue: 84, 159 - 182, 30.10.2024

Murat Özata

https://doi.org/10.26650/iutd.1496002

Abstract

The concept of democracy plays an important role in the US foreign policy. American Presidents use democracy as a motivating force for their policies worldwide. This study examines the policies of the American administrations concerning the democratic developments and coups in the Republic of Turkiye between 1945 and 1983. The influence of the US administration, as the most important proponent of liberal democracy, on Turkiye's transition to multi-party rule and its approach to the coups of May 27, September 12, and the March 12 memorandum will be discussed based on the American sources in the present study. In addition to the American National Archives, Congressional Records, Official Publications, the American newspapers of the period, and the memoirs of diplomats who served in Turkiye were used as the primary sources of the study. These sources enabled the evaluation of the development of Turkish democracy from the American perspective. The US attitude towards Turkish democracy will also reveal whether democracy is a goal or a tool of the US foreign policy towards Turkiye.

Keywords

Democracy, Coup, Military Intervention, USA

Project Number

1059B192200692

Demokrasi ya da İstikrar: ABD'nin Turkiye'nin Demokrasi Deneyimine Yönelik Politikası 1945-1980

Abstract

Demokrasi kavramı ABD dış politikasında önemli bir role sahiptir. Amerikan Başkanları demokrasiyi dünya genelindeki politikalarının motive edici gücü olarak kullanmaktadır. Bu araştırma, 1945-1980 yılları arasında Türkiye Cumhuriyeti'nde yaşanan demokratik gelişmelere ve darbelere ilişkin Amerikan yönetimlerinin politikalarını incelemektedir. Liberal demokrasinin en önemli savunucusu olan ABD yönetiminin Türkiye’nin çok partili hayata geçişi üzerindeki etkisi, Türkiye’de gerçekleşen 27 Mayıs, 12 Eylül darbesine ve 12 Mart muhtırasına yaklaşımı Amerikan kaynaklarına dayanarak ele alınacaktır. Amerikan Ulusal Arşivinin yanında Kongre Tutanakları, Resmi Yayınlar, döneme ait basın ve Türkiye’de görev yapmış diplomatların hatıraları araştırmada birincil kaynaklar olarak kullanılmıştır. Bu kaynaklar, Türk demokrasisinin gelişim sürecinin Amerikan perspektifinden değerlendirilmesine imkân sağlamıştır. ABD'nin Türk demokrasisi karşısındaki tutumu, demokrasinin ABD'nin Türkiye'ye yönelik dış politikasının bir hedefi mi yoksa aracı mı olduğunu da ortaya koyacaktır.

Keywords

Demokrasi, ABD, Darbe, Askeri Müdahale

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK

Project Number

1059B192200692

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