Baudrillard in Ankara: mainstream media and the production of simulacra in the Turkish public sphere

• Published in: British journal of Middle Eastern studies 2022-10, Vol.49 (5), p.1037-1051
• Main Authors: Grigoriadis, Ioannis N., Karabıçak, Onur T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Diplomacy; Dissemination; Government; Leadership; Legitimation; Mass media; Mass media effects; Production; Public sphere; Speeches; Television; Traitors; Truth; Voters
• ISSN: 1353-0194; 1469-3542
• DOI: 10.1080/13530194.2021.1900781

Turkey's recent democratic backsliding has been profoundly reflected in the near-complete government control of mass media. Pro-government mainstream media, rather than pursuing truth, has engaged in systematic production and dissemination of simulacra. Developed by Baudrillard, the concept of simulacrum can provide insights into the truth and reality perceptions of Turkish voters. This has been a topic widely discussed, given that produced simulacra establish a legitimation framework for the Turkish government's domestic and foreign policies. Various print and electronic sources are studied to analyse the content of speeches and used techniques. In this study, Baudrillard's scheme will be applied for the study of three political narratives dominant in the Turkish public sphere: Turkey's 'struggle for survival (bekâ mücadelesi)', the projection of key opposition leaders as 'traitors', and ideal leadership and diplomacy from past to present through two popular television series, 'Diriliş Ertuğrul (Resurrection Ertuğrul)' and 'Payitaht Abdülhamid (Leader Abdülhamid)'.