Taming Turkey’s Deep State

Abstract

The Kemalist Republic of Turkey was founded on the concept of exclusive Turkish national identity that, among other factors, proved hostile to any expression of Kurdish identity.¹ Since it would be a contradiction in terms to maintain such a situation in a true republic, an arcane or Deep State (Derin Devlet) developed alongside or parallel to the official State to enforce the ultimate principles of the Kemalist Republic. This Deep State became “an omnipotent force with tentacle-like hands reaching everywhere … a state within the legitimate state.”² The colorful but enigmatic phrase Deep State referred to how this secret “other” state had penetrated deeply into the political, security, and economic structures of the official State.