2025, Vol. 7, Issue 6, Part B

Author(s): Md. Naiyar Azam

Abstract: This article explores complexities in the evolution of political culture in Turkey that emphasize the transformative and reciprocal role of mass media throughout distinct historical periods. Tracing developments from the late Ottoman era through the early Republican modernization, the multiparty democratic transitions, periods of military intervention and the current digital landscape, the study places media as both a mirror and an engine of political change. The application of foundational theories of political culture (Almond and Verba; Inglehart) and media studies (agenda-setting, framing, media dependency), it demonstrates how Turkish political culture has oscillated between authoritarianism and pluralism, secular nationalism and religious conservatism with mass media mediated and amplified these tensions. During the early Republic, state-controlled media outlets propagated secular and nationalist values but subsequent media encouraged liberalization and privatization. Which exacerbates ideological contestation and oligarchic control. The proliferation of digital media in the 21^st century enabled new forms of civic engagement and opposition but this advancement heightened polarization and facilitated digital authoritarianism through surveillance and content manipulation. The paper contends that Turkish media has actively influenced civic identities, behaviours and the boundaries of public discourse rather than just functioning as a passive channel that oscillates between promoting democratization and reinforcing hegemonic control. In the end, the Turkish experience underscores that media’s impact on political culture is contingent on shifting power dynamics, legal institutions and technical systems. The study provides extensive insights for comparative research that emphasises the crucial role of media in conflicts regarding democracy, identity and authority in transitional countries.

Pages: 88-95 | Views: 604 | Downloads: 184

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