Communication strategies in Turkey : Erdoğan, the AKP and political messaging

The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is known for his populist Islamist ideology, charismatic personality, and for ushering in new forms of communication strategies in Turkey. The key tools in Erdogan’s political communication repertoire include religious, cultural and historic symbols and imagery. From engaging Israel to the Gezi Park protests, from the Arab uprisings to the July 2016 coup attempt, every key moment in Turkey’s recent history has heralded a change in Erdogan’s rhetoric. __Communication Strategies in Turkey__ examines the transformation of political messaging that has taken place within the Justice and Development Party (AKP) under Erdogan. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with high profile AKP officials, observations at AKP rallies and headquarters, and analysis of Erdogan's speeches from 2002 to 2019, the book shows how his method of communication changed over time to prioritise a “New Turkey” to replace Atatürk and his legacy. The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is known for his populist Islamist ideology, charismatic personality, and for ushering in new forms of communication strategies in Turkey. The key tools in Erdogan's political communication repertoire include religious, cultural and historic symbols and imagery. From engaging Israel to the Gezi Park protests, from the Arab uprisings to the July 2016 coup attempt, every key moment in Turkey's recent history has heralded a change in Erdogan's rhetoric. Communication Strategies in Turkey examines the transformation of political messaging that has taken place within the Justice and Development Party (AKP) under Erdogan. Using quantitative and qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with high profile AKP officials, observations at AKP rallies and headquarters, and analysis of Erdogan's speeches from 2002 to 2019, the book shows how his method of communication changed over time to prioritise a "New Turkey" to replace Ataturk and his legacy Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Contents 8 Illustrations 9 Acknowledgements 10 Abbreviations 11 Short note on methods 13 1 Introduction 14 2 The concept of political communication 22 3 Modernization in the Ottoman era, Islamism in Turkey and AKP’s rise 38 4 The AKP’s code of identity 62 5 Communicating religion 106 6 Politics and p(owe)r: Evolvement of political messaging 146 7 Erdogan’s communication: Populist Islamism 160 8 Post-Erdogan Turkey 184 Notes 190 1 Introduction 190 2 The concept of political communication 191 3 Modernization in the Ottoman era, Islamism in Turkey and AKP’s rise 194 4 The AKP’s code of identity 197 5 Communicating religion 199 6 Politics and p(owe)r: Evolvement of political messaging 201 7 Erdoğan’s communication: Populist Islamism 202 8 Post-Erdoğan Turkey 204 Bibliography 206 Index 244