CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES. THE CASES OF EGYPT, PAKISTAN, AND TURKEY

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of the military in the contemporary politics of Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey. While there is literature on military coups, and analyses of the military in democratic consolidation, there is little on the military’s role in democratic transitions. There is virtually none on Arab or Muslim countries. The Arab Spring has brought renewed attention to the role of the military in these problematic transitions. Utilizing a common framework, based on Alfred Stepan’s “prerogatives”, the article compares and contrasts the position of the military in these three countries. In order to explain the different powers of the militaries in accord with these variables, the article then examines a series of five commonly identified factors promoting or impeding the political role position of the military.

Keywords

• Civil-military relations
• Civilian control of the military; Turkey; Pakistan; Egypt; Military prerogatives; Military and democratic transition
• Civilian control of the military
• Turkey
• Pakistan
• Egypt
• Military prerogatives
• Military and democratic transition