Populism, Authoritarianism and Necropolitics: Instrumentalization of Martyrdom Narratives in Akp's Turkey

ISBN-13: 9789811982910 / Angielski / Twarda / 2023 / 217 str.

Ihsan Yilmaz; Omer F. Erturk

Opis

This book examines how Turkey’s ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan produces and employs necropolitical narratives in order to perpetuate its authoritarian rule.In doing so, the book argues that as the party transitioned from socially conservative Muslim democratic values to authoritarian Islamism, it embraced a necropolitical narrative based on the promotion of martyrdom, and of killing and dying for the Turkish nation and Islam, as part of their authoritarian legitimation. This narrative, the book shows, is used by the party to legitimise its actions and deflect its failures through the framing of the deaths of Turkish soldiers and civilians, which have occurred due to the AKP’s political errors, as martyrdom events in which loyal servants of the Turkish Republic and God gave their lives in order to protect the nation in a time of great crisis. This book also describes how, throughout its second decade in power, the AKP has used Turkey’s education system, its Directorate of Religious Affairs, and television programs in order to propagate its necropolitical martyrdom narrative.

Spis treści

Chapter 1. The AKP’s Populist Authoritarianism and Necropolitics

Abstract 4

Introduction. 4

Three pillars of authoritarian stability. 8

Civilisational populism.. 8

Necropolitics. 10

The civilisational populist necropolitics in the AKP authoritarianism.. 13

Structure of the book. 17

References. 23

PART I – NECROPOLITCAL PROPAGANDA.. 26

Chapter 2. Martyrdom and Martyr Icons in Turkish Politics. 27

Abstract 27

Introduction. 27

Kemalism and martyrs. 28

Kemalists’ martyr hero icon Kubilay. 32

Conclusion. 35

References. 36

Chapter 3. Martyrdom in the Erdoganist AKP’s Politics. 43

Abstract 43

Introduction. 43

Erdoganism and martyrs. 44

Erdoğanists’ martyr-icons. 51

Conclusion. 55

References. 56

Chapter 4: Necropolitical Sermons. 62

Abstract 62

Introduction. 62

Militarism in the Friday sermons from Kemalist to Erdoganist times. 63

Jihadism in Friday sermons. 67

Martyrdom in Friday sermons. 71

Conclusion. 76

References. 78

Chapter 5. The Use of TV Series for Populist Necropolitical Propaganda. 83

Abstract 83

Introduction. 83

The state’s use of TV series from Kemalist to Erdoganist times. 84

The TV series as a means of necropolitical re-production. 86

“Resurrection” of a hero. 93

Glorifying death, beheading, martyrdom, and graves in a jihadist context 96

Conclusion. 100

References. 101

Chapter 6. Targeting Children via Education for Populist Necropolitical Propaganda. 108

Abstract 108

Introduction. 108

The populist necropolitical national curriculum from Kemalism to Erdoğanism   111

Jihad and martyrdom as necropolitical instruments in texts. 113

Civilisational populist necropolitical investment at the schools. 117

Glorification of martyrdom in Diyanet’s children’s magazines and comics  122

Conclusion. 123

References. 124

PART II – NECROPOLITICS IN AUTHORITARIAN ACTION.. 130

Chapter 7. Necropolitics and AKP’s Blame Avoidance. 131

Abstract 131

Introduction. 131

Blame avoidance tactics. 132

Redefine, reshape, spin, and manipulate the blame. 134

Impose restrictions on access to opposing voices and media. 137

Turn blame into credit 137

Bargaining via rewards. 139

Conclusion. 147

References. 148

Chapter 8. Necropolitics and Martyrdom in AKP’s Authoritarian Stability. 157

Abstract 157

Introduction. 157

Necropolitics and repression. 158

Necropolitics and legitimation for authoritarianism.. 161

Necropolitics and co-optation. 162

Conclusion. 163

References. 165

PART III – NECROPOLITCS AND TURKISH SOCIETY.. 171

Chapter 9. Necropolitics and Turkish Society. 172

Abstract 172

Introduction. 172

Kowtow to the authority and stimulation of demand. 173

Sacrificing life for Erdoğan and his religious cause (da’wa) 175

Conclusion. 181

References. 181

Chapter 10 The role of Necropolitics and Martyrdom in Turkey under AKP rule. 188

Abstract 188

References. 199

O autorze

Ihsan Yilmaz is Research Professor and Chair of Islamic Studies at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI), Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.

Omer Erturk is an Independent Researcher in Berlin, Germany, with an interest area focused on Turkish politics, Islamist movements in Turkey, relations between politics and religion, radicalism and autocracy.

Blurb

This book examines how Turkey’s ruling party, the Justice and Development Party (AKP), under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan produces and employs necropolitical narratives in order to perpetuate its authoritarian rule.

In doing so, the book argues that as the party transitioned from socially conservative Muslim democratic values to authoritarian Islamism, it embraced a necropolitical narrative based on the promotion of martyrdom, and of killing and dying for the Turkish nation and Islam, as part of their authoritarian legitimation. This narrative, the book shows, is used by the party to legitimise its actions and deflect its failures through the framing of the deaths of Turkish soldiers and civilians, which have occurred due to the AKP’s political errors, as martyrdom events in which loyal servants of the Turkish Republic and God gave their lives in order to protect the nation in a time of great crisis. This book also describes how, throughout its second decade in power, the AKP has used Turkey’s education system, its Directorate of Religious Affairs, and television programs in order to propagate its necropolitical martyrdom narrative.

Ihsan Yilmaz is Research Professor and Chair of Islamic Studies at the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI), Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.

Omer Erturk is an Independent Researcher in Berlin, Germany, with an interest area focused on Turkish politics, Islamist movements in Turkey, relations between politics and religion, radicalism and autocracy.