Communication Strategies in Turkey: Erdogan, the AKP and Political Messaging

by Taner Dogan

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781838602246
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/24/2020
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Taner Dogan is Assistant Professor of Media and Communications at Ibn Haldun University where he teaches Political Communication and Communication History. He also works as a Monitoring Jourbanalist at TRT World. He holds a PhD from City, University of London.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. The Concept of Political Communication

3. Modernization in the Ottoman Era, Islamism in Turkey and AKP's Rise

4. The AKP's Code of Identity

5. Communicating Religion

6. Politics and P(owe)R: Evolvement of Political Messaging

7. Erdogan’s Communication: Populist Islamism

8. Post-Erdogan Turkey

Editorial Reviews

'Communication in Turkey has not received the academic scrutiny and analysis it deserves. Taner Dogan's incisive and pioneering study admirably fills this gap. It is an extremely valuable contribution to the literature on political communication. Highly recommended' - Daya Thussu, Professor of International Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

"Taner Dogan's original, groundbreaking research provides an insightful perspective into the opportunities, challenges and defining moments that have contributed to shaping the political messages of Turkey's President and its ruling party over the last decade. A must read for those interested in international communication in general and Turkey's political media strategies in particular." - Mohammed el-Nawawy, Professor in the Media and Cultural Studies Program, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar

From the Publisher