Description
Book SynopsisThis 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.
Table of ContentsChapter 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
