This dissertation seeks to contribute to our understanding of the role played by civilian leaders in the consolidation of democracy examining changes in levels of military influence over politics. This study departs from typical military-centric civil-military relations literature by employing a civilian-centric analysis. In particular, it shows how the former's focus on changing levels of internal threat cannot account for variations in the levels of civilian control over the military. The study instead adopts a framework that focuses on the incentive structure of civilian leaders as determined by competitive elections; the political capacity of leaders as reflected in their parliamentary majority, political experience and the effectiveness of their economic policies; and institutional rules, such as the system of government and organization of the parties. The thesis argues that, depending on their incentive structure and political capacity, the civilian leaders will either challenge a politically powerful military or ally with that military by adopting its preference structures. The relevance of this model for understanding civil-military relations in the aftermath of a transition to democracy is explored in the Turkish case by examining the shift from low to high levels of military influence between late 1980s and mid-1990s. The thesis identifies this shift by looking at the incentive structure and the political capacity of two civilian leaders: Prime Minister/President Turgut Ozal and Prime Minister Tansu Ciller.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 180-184). / Also available by subscription via World Wide Web / v, 184 leaves, bound 29 cm

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2007. / "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters in American History in the Department of History." Includes bibliographical references (p. 88-103). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, 2008. / "June 2008." Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 141-148). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs)--Naval Postgraduate School, Dec. 2004. / Thesis Advisor(s): Barak A. Salmoni. Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-66). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S. in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy)--Joint Forces Staff College, Joint Advanced Warfighting School, 2008. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on Dec. 11, 2008. "4 April 2008." Electronic version of original print document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-82).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Iowa, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 212-226).

Thesis (M.A. in International Security and Civil-Military Relations) Naval Postgraduate School, March 2000. / Thesis advisor(s): Stockton, Paul N. "March 2000." Includes bibliographical references (p. 63-68). Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Denver, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 315-329).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Tulane University, 1993. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 324-334).