We are told that Trump is fighting the deep state, the true enemy of humanity. But what is the origin of this term. For those who may be unclear about just exactly what the “deep state” is, it would be good to explain this concept, or reality, especially in the context of Trump and his MAGA.
The term “deep state” comes from the Turkish phrase derin devlet, which emerged to describe a network of military, intelligence, and bureaucratic elements operating independently of elected officials in Turkey. This concept dates back to the early years of the Turkish republic but gained prominence during the Cold War era and in the 1990s with allegations of a secret alliance between the military, intelligence, organized crime, and business elites.
The idea was initially used to explain covert operations and the influence of these networks on Turkish politics, often to maintain a particular ideological status quo.
The concept of secretive power structures gained traction during the Cold War, with the growth of intelligence agencies and concerns about clandestine influence in governments worldwide. This period saw the rise of fears about international manipulation and covert operations.
The term was first applied internationally by scholars like Ola Tunander, who discussed it in the context of a “dual state” where unofficial networks influence national security policies.
Skipping ahead, the term “deep state” entered American discourse prominently in early 2017, shortly after Donald Trump’s inauguration. It was used by Trump and his supporters to describe perceived internal adversaries within Washington, particularly in the intelligence and law enforcement communities.
Despite its current association with right-wing politics, the idea of a deep state has roots in left-wing critiques of government secrecy and the influence of powerful elites on policy.
The term has become a staple in popular culture and media, often used to describe any perceived resistance within government agencies to elected officials’ policies. The concept remains controversial, with some viewing it as a legitimate concern about bureaucratic influence and others seeing it as a baseless conspiracy theory.
However, while the concept of the “deep state” is often associated with conspiracy theories, there are real-world examples where secretive networks or powerful groups have indeed influenced government actions.
In Turkey, the existence of secret military and intelligence units like JİTEM has been confirmed. JİTEM stands for “Gendarmerie Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism” (from the Turkish, Jandarma İstihbarat ve Terörle Mücadele), and is the intelligence department of the Turkish Gendarmerie, a paramilitary force responsible for maintaining law and order in rural areas of Turkey. These units operated outside the formal government structure, influencing politics and security policies, often through covert operations. The Turkish deep state has been involved in shaping political outcomes, including alleged involvement in coups and political assassinations.
During the Cold War, Italy was home to “Operation Gladio,” a clandestine NATO operation aimed at preventing communist influence. This involved secret paramilitary groups and intelligence services, which sometimes engaged in political manipulation and violence.
Propaganda Due, commonly known as P2, was a clandestine Masonic lodge in Italy that gained notoriety for its involvement in numerous scandals and crimes, and was/is a subversive organization, influencing Italian politics and involved in various illegal activities.
The FBI has been involved in surveillance and infiltration of political groups, such as the John Birch Society and of civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., often using questionable methods to discredit them. There have been allegations that elements within the U.S. intelligence community have worked to undermine certain policies or relationships, such as U.S.-Russia relations, though these claims are often controversial and not universally accepted.
These examples illustrate how powerful, secretive networks can influence government actions, though they may or may validate the broader conspiracy theories associated with the term “deep state.”
The concept of the “deep state” can significantly impact democratic processes in several ways, both real and perceived.
The deep state narrative often portrays a shadowy group of bureaucrats and officials as working against elected leaders has eroded public trust in government institutions. This perception had led to increased polarization and skepticism about government actions. In cases where powerful networks do exert undue influence, it can undermine the democratic process by bypassing elected officials’ authority and manipulating policy decisions.
The deep state narrative fuels political divisions by framing political disagreements as conspiracies rather than legitimate dissent. This can lead to further polarization and mistrust among citizens.
If a deep state does exist, it can easily obstruct policies by undermining the authority of elected officials. This can lead to inefficiencies in governance and hinder the implementation of policies.
Leaders who claim to fight the deep state might use this narrative to consolidate power, undermine checks and balances, and promote authoritarian tendencies.
The deep state narrative often involves conspiracy theories that spread misinformation, further complicating democratic discourse and decision-making processes. Thus, focusing on deep state theories can divert attention from real issues affecting democracy, such as corruption, inequality, and institutional weaknesses.
However, the deep state narrative does highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability in government. Addressing these concerns can help restore trust and improve democratic processes. But this is not an easy thing, given how poisonous the current political culture is.
More recently, even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu jumped on the deep state narrative. He has stated that a “leftist Deep State” in both the United States and Israel is using the justice system to undermine the will of the people when strong right-wing leaders are elected. This rhetoric, of course, is reminiscent of that used by Trump, who often has said that a “Deep State” resists his administration.
Netanyahu’s comments were made on his official X account and later reposted from his personal account. The statement came amid an ongoing investigation into potential illegal funds from Qatar to his aides, which has been under a gag order. Netanyahu’s use of this rhetoric reflects a deepening conflict between his government and state institutions, including the judiciary and the Shin Bet security agency.
The Israeli prime minister’s remarks were met with criticism from figures like President Isaac Herzog, who defended Israel’s judiciary as an asset to democracy, and opposition leader Yair Lapid, who suggested Netanyahu had “gone off the rails” with his comments.
Suddenly, things become very questionable when a genocidal leader talks about the deep state as his “enemy”—because if there actually is a deep state working against him and trying to thwart his policies, then that is a very good—and more power to such a deep state. Netanyahu has killed thousands and will kill thousands more before he is ousted from power. If an Israeli deep state manages to do that, then more power to the deep state!
But here is a suggestion for all those who speak of a deep state and those who refute them and call them conspiracy theorists. Both camps, in their own way, are speaking about the spectacular failure of Western democracy. When ordinary people have to speak of a powerful cabal perched on top of them, and other people saying that such a cabal does not exist points to the complete exclusion of the individual from the political sphere. And elections are simply affirmations of this lockout.
Politics now exists only for the select few (the billionaires and their realities) to participate in. The public at large is only a spectator, whose job is to applaud or to boo and hiss. Narratives about the deep state give the illusion of participation in power. Therefore, they are great entertainment. Bread-and-circuses never gets old, because the job of the public is to keep itself entertained. It will never be allowed to handle sort of political power. By, for and of the people. Great speech. Now what?
