The Deep State

The concept of a “deep state” ('derin devlet' in Turkish) originates in Turkey, where it denotes the influence exerted by the military, intelligence services (MIT), and the Kemalist bureaucracy on civilian politics, including through coups (1960, 1971, 1980, 1997). The Susurluk scandal (1996), revealing links between the state, the mafia, and paramilitary movements, is often cited as a concrete illustration of the Turkish deep state. The concept is also applied to Egypt (the role of the military), Pakistan (ISI), and other countries.

In the United States, the idea of an 'administrative state' exercising excessive power has long existed in political thought, particularly among conservatives and libertarians. President Eisenhower warned against the 'military-industrial complex' in his farewell address (1961). The Senate Church Committee (1975-1976) documented abuses by intelligence agencies, including CIA assassinations (Operation Mongoose), FBI domestic surveillance (COINTELPRO), and NSA (Operation SHAMROCK). The Edward Snowden revelations (2013) about NSA mass surveillance revived these concerns.

The term "deep state" is introduced into American discourse by journalist and former diplomat Peter Dale Scott in his works on shadow power and the drug trade (CIA). Mike Lofgren, former Congressional analyst, publishes 'The Deep State: The Fall of the Constitution and the Rise of a Shadow Government' (2016), offering a serious analysis of the permanent security state.

The theory takes on a massive dimension under the Trump presidency (2017-2021). Trump and his allies allege that the “deep state” – specifically the FBI, the Department of Justice, the CIA, and senior civil servants – is actively seeking to sabotage his presidency. Cited elements include:

• The FBI investigation into links between the Trump campaign and Russia (Crossfire Hurricane, then Mueller investigation)
• The Steele memorandum (dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele, partially funded by the Clinton campaign)
• Leaks to the press of classified information harmful to Trump
• The indictment of Michael Flynn (national security advisor)
• The two impeachment proceedings
• The role of officials such as Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman (Ukraine whistleblower)

Steve Bannon, Trump's chief strategist, declares that the 'deconstruction of the administrative state' is a central goal of the presidency. Trump's term "drain the swamp" is a popular version of the same concept.

The concept of the deep state is also used by the American left, but with a different focus: the military-industrial complex, the power of Wall Street over economic policy, and the influence of lobbies (NRA, AIPAC, pharmaceutical industry).

Academic debate distinguishes: (1) the factual reality that permanent bureaucracies, intelligence agencies, and the military-industrial complex exert considerable and sometimes undemocratic influence, (2) the conspiracy theory of an organized and coordinated plot specifically against Trump or any other specific leader.