Those who fear democracy and plan conspiracies against it are actually a small minority in both Turkey and the world. It is for this reason the “conspiracies” are not supported by the majority of the public or by other global powers.We know that in the past those who could not find public support for anti-democratic activities sought and ultimately won the support of “foreign bosses.” Every coup until now has explicitly or implicitly been supported by the US. Generals that are standing trial today for attempting a coup in the past tried to win the US's support in 2003 and 2004 for their coup plans. But when the US refused, they turned to Russia. By the time they realized that they would not be able to stage a coup with Russia's support and turned back to the US in 2007, the neocons with which they had connections had already lost their influence in Washington. The situation completely changed after Barack Obama was elected president. Turkish coup leaders had no connections with the new administration nor any known neocons left in Washington. While the Ergenekon investigation continued, instead of directly intervening in politics, the military willingly retreated to its traditional “tutelage regime.”
It's impossible for coup leaders to find support in the US after this hour. With the withdrawal process starting in Iraq, the instability in Afghanistan, the ongoing chaos in Pakistan and the uncertainty in Iran following the presidential elections, the last thing the US administration wants is for chaos to start in Turkey.
Turkey's “democratic stability” is integral and indispensable for the international system. If Turkey's democratic stability is damaged as a result of the bureaucratic traps set against society and political institutions, then Turkey will turn into not only a regional but a global “security” problem. Everyone knows that instead of resolving problems with the Kurds in Iraq, the Armenians in the Caucasus and the Greeks in Cyprus, Turkey will be in constant conflict with them.
It is for this reason that Turkey's “democratic stability” is necessary for regional and global balances. It is Turkey's democracy that makes it valuable and powerful. We know that was not the case in the past. During the Cold War years, the only reason Turkey was a member of the Western bloc was because of its strategic location for the US. How and by whom Turkey was led was not important for them. But today, their views are much different. There is a general view that a Turkey that lacks democracy will not only cause instability within the country, but also constitute a problem for the region. More importantly, a Turkey without democracy will create a problem for the US.
The reason for this is clear since anti-democratic forces similar to the Ergenekon gang clearly aim to separate Turkey from the West and isolate it. Moreover, it is certain that in the event of this kind of an administration, Turkey will no longer be a country that gives stability and security to the region. Authoritarian regimes are known for adopting aggressive foreign policies in an effort to find legitimacy and social support, provoking neighbors and other world governments and wanting to strengthen the regime by inciting tension in the public.
In the end, the US's vision for Turkey is not based on absolute “strategic” plans; the “democracy” element is indispensable as well. In other words, the news is bad for coup enthusiasts. Now Turkey has an opportunity to strengthen its democracy. It can achieve that by reviving the European Union process, continuing democratic reforms and proceeding with the Ergenekon investigation in a determined and legal fashion. As for the military, it must get rid of coup and junta supporters. No one can tolerate juntas within a NATO army any longer.
A Turkey that loses its democratic character will not have a place in the Western world or influence in the East.
