From Training to Influence: The Role of U.S. Military Training in Turkish Officers’ Decisions

Abstract

How does U.S. military education build influence among foreign officers? This study proposes two theoretical pathways from training to influence. The extrinsic pathway is based on material incentives for cooperation and acceptance of the U.S.-led hierarchy. In contrast, the intrinsic pathway relies on interpersonal networks based on trust and reciprocity expectations. The study argues for the latter: Cooperation by U.S.-trained officers occurs not out of subordination, but because they view themselves as part of a network with the U.S. The empirical analysis focuses on the case of Turkey: a NATO ally that nevertheless has a history of anti-American sentiment among the military ranks. Through both interviews and a survey experiment with Turkish officers, we provide individual-level evidence showing that U.S.-trained officers are more likely to both grant and make informal requests when dealing with U.S. counterparts, and that this effect is larger for those officers who participate in longer programs.