What the Failed Coup Means for Democracy in Turkey

Fallout from coup attempt will widen Turkey's main fault lines, say experts

Sellers wait for customers as they look at their phones in central Istanbul, Monday, July 18, 2016. Warplanes patrolled Turkey's skies days after a failed coup, officials said Monday, in a sign that authorities feared that the threat against the government was not yet over. AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

The Turkish government’s crackdown on alleged plotters and government opponents since July 15’s failed coup attempt has been swift and far-reaching.

Within five days, the government fired more than 50,000 people from state jobs and arrested 9,000 others.

But according to some observers, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may be using this as an opportunity to mute opposition and expand his power, raising questions about what the July 15 incident will ultimately mean for democracy in Turkey.

The current crackdown goes beyond the Gulen movement.

— Reva Goujan, Stratfor