The Trajectory of Democracy: The Social Roots of Political Change in Turkey 1946-2002.

The article analyzes the trajectory of the Turkish political regime between 1946 and 2002. In 1971 and 1980 the level of violence in the country was much higher than in 1960 and 1997. The European Union had an important role in the democratization of Turkey. The U.S. wanted to make Turkey a member of the European Union whereas Germany protested vehemently against Turkey's membership. In Turkey democratization was the result of the struggle between the bourgeoisie striving for democracy and the military.