Global InformationDeep state in Turkey information
In Turkey, the deep state (Turkish: derin devlet) is an alleged group of influential anti-democratic coalitions inside the Turkish political structure, composed of high-level elements within the intelligence services (domestic and foreign), the Turkish military, security agencies, the judiciary, and mafia.[1][2] The political agenda of the deep state network purportedly involves an allegiance to nationalism, corporatism, and state interests. Violence and other means of pressure have historically been employed in a largely covert manner to manipulate political and economic elites, ensuring that specific interests are met within the seemingly democratic framework of the political landscape.[3][4] Former president Süleyman Demirel says that central to the outlook and behavior of the predominantly military elites who constitute the deep state, is an effort to uphold national interests which have been shaped by an entrenched belief, dating back to the fall of the Ottoman Empire, that the country is always "on the brink".[5]
The alleged ideology of the deep state is anti-socialist, ultranationalist,[6] secularist, anti-Kurdish, anti-democratic, and anti-liberal.[7] As pointed out by former prime minister Bülent Ecevit, the diversity of opinion reflects the diversity of the various deep state coalitions,[8] as the deep state is not so much an alliance, as several groups that work behind the scenes, each in pursuit of its own agenda.[9][10][11] Another explanation contradicts the reduction of the deep state to an interest network and defines it as a type of domination based on the high level of autonomy enjoyed by the military that enables the security apparatus to disrupt formal democratic institutions (in the foreground) by employing a sui generis repertoire of informal institutions (in the background), i.e. putsch threat, autocratic cliques, mafia, organized crime and corruption.[12] Rumours and conspiracy theories of a deep state existing have been widespread in Turkey since Ecevit's term as prime minister in the 1970s, after his revelation of the existence of a Turkish counterpart to Italy's Operation Gladio, the "Counter-Guerrilla".[13][14] Many Turkish citizens, including elected politicians, suspect that the deep state exists, and may hold the key to unexplained events.[15][16]
- ^ Freely, Maureen (May 2007). "Why they killed Hrant Dink". Index on Censorship. 36 (2): 15–29. doi:10.1080/03064220701334477. S2CID 145049618. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
The deep state is Turkish shorthand for a faceless clique inside the Turkish state that has, some claim, held the reins of real power throughout the republic's 84-year history. There are some who see it on a continuum with the shady networks that 'took care of business' (including, some believe, the Armenian business) in the last years of the Ottoman Empire. The deep state is held to be based in the army, but closely linked with the National Intelligence Service (MIT), the judiciary, and (since the 1960s) the mafia.
- ^ Jones, Gareth (20 November 2005). "Bombing throws spotlight on Turkey". Turkish Daily News. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
The 'deep state' consists of elements from the military, security and judicial establishments who, if need be, are ready to block or even oust a government that does not share their vision.
- ^ Gorvett, Jon (November 2006). "Bombing Campaign a Response to Ankara's Kurdish Policies, or 'Deep State' Plot?". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. American Educational Trust: 44–45. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
Yet speculation is rife as to who might really be behind the group.
- ^ Yavuz, Ercan (11 January 2008). "'Deep state' suspects' release arouses deep suspicions". Today's Zaman. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
The police found that Selvi's gang exacted protection money.
- ^ Türköne, Mümtaz'er (29 April 2005). "Derin devlet ve Kuvva-yı Milliye". Zaman (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
Bu korkunun arkasında ise Osmanlı Devleti'nin dağılması var. Cumhuriyeti kuranlar ordu mensupları ve Demirel onlarda bu korkunun hakim olduğunu söylüyor. Bu korkuya "hufre-i inkıraz" (uçurumun kenarına gelme korkusu) veya "pençe-i izmihlal" (çöküşün pençesinde olma) deniyormuş. Osmanlı Devleti'nin çöküş hikayesinden hafızalara kazınan bu korku devletteki işlerin önemli faktörlerinden biri. Demirel, adeta bir paranoya halini anlatıyor.
- ^ "Turkish-Armenian editor murdered in Istanbul" (Press release). Committee to Protect Journalists. 19 January 2007. Archived from the original on 25 January 2007. Retrieved 24 January 2007.
- ^ Dogan, Yonca Poyraz (10 March 2008). "PKK won't die off as long as deep state is alive". Monday Talk. Today's Zaman. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ Pamir, Balcicek (11 April 2005). "Durup dururken 'derin devlet'". Sabah (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
Derin devlet konuşuluyor bugünlerde. Derin devlet yeryüzünde yüzü resmen belli olmayan devlettir. Sayın Demirel, sıkıntı yaşadığı dönemleri sadece derin devlet olarak anlatıyor. Diyor ki 'Derin devlet, devlette zaaf olursa ortaya çıkar.' Buna katılıyorum. Ama bugün öylesine bir zaaf yoktur. Tabii ki sıkıntıları var günümüzdeki hükümetin ama ne iç ne de dış sıkıntılar derin devlet gerektirecek sıkıntılar değildir. Yine de durup dururken derin devleti konuşuyoruz. Herkesin kendisine göre bir derin devlet tanımlaması vardır. Ben derin devlet olayını o olay açıktan devam ederken yaşadım. Derin devlet kontrgerilladır. Ben o zaman da uyarılarda bulundum, cumhurbaşkanı'na kadar durumu ilettim.
- ^ Beki, Mehmet Akif (17 January 1997). "Whose gang is this?". Turkish Daily News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2008.
- ^ Jenkins, Gareth (3 October 2008). "The Impact of the Ergenekon Investigation on Turkish Counterterrorism Operations". Terrorism Monitor. 6 (19). Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 14 November 2008.
Although some elements were in contact with each other, the deep state was always more of an umbrella of judicial immunity for disparate—and often virtually autonomous—groups and individuals pursuing a common goal rather than a single tightly structured and centrally controlled organization.
- ^ Söylemez, Haşim (3 December 2008). "Ergenekon dünkü çocuk, Öcalan derin devletin adamıdır". Aksiyon (in Turkish). 726. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
Derin devletin kendi içinde de çelişkileri vardır. Ergenekon derin devletin bir parçası ama bugün yargılanıyor. Çünkü derin devlet kendisinden olan bir kesimi dışlamak, atmak istiyor. Bunun için deşifre ediyor.
- ^ Söyler, Mehtap, "Informal institutions, forms of state and democracy: the Turkish deep state", Democratization, Volume 20, Issue 2, 2013, 310–334.
- ^ "Turkey determined to purge its Gladio". Today's Zaman. 24 January 2008. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
gencwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Turgut, Pelin (28 January 2008). "Turkey Busts Alleged Murder Network". Time. Archived from the original on 31 January 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
Most Turks have long suspected the existence of a covert web of elements within the security forces and bureaucracy who act outside the law to uphold their own political ends. There is even a household name for it: the 'deep state,' referring to a state within the state.
- ^ Finkel, Andrew (22 February 2007). "Think tank declares war on 'deep state'". Today's Zaman. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
the 1996 Susurluk affair. This incident led many ordinary Turks to suspect there was a deep state that operated according to its own set of interests and which was impervious to governmental control.