Turkey: rethinking ideology in Turkey’s media environment

This chapter focuses on the intricacies of media dynamics in Turkey. It explains how the interplay of ideology and populism can undermine democratic principles within the media. This examination serves as a valuable addition to global literature, offering insights in comparison to other populist scenarios worldwide. Within the framing of political parallelism and populism, two notions are important to discuss when problematizing the media landscape in Turkey: nationalism and Islamism. Both are influential sociopolitical tools to create a certain narrative and use it as an ideological storytelling tool. Ideology has since become the primary engine, steering not just specific institutions but also shaping the country's economic and communication strategies. Free speech is an issue that has special importance for the populist government in Turkey. The suppression of free speech and human rights hampers both societal growth and innovation, which in turn takes a toll on the economy.