15216. POLITICAL ISLAM IN TURKEY. This paper looks at the role of the nation's military leaders in maintaining a secular government over the years. Although Islam-based political parties have competed for power since the 1950s (such as the Welfare Party and the Virtue Party), the military has consistently undermined the efforts of these parties and has caused them to be banned. As such, it is argued that Turkey has failed to establish a true representative democracy. 12 pages, 43 footnotes, 12 bibliographic references.