October 17, 2011

Protectionist Ideology in Turkey and Its Cheap, Polarizing Bloggers Abroad

Muhammed Çetin

When a conflict arises in society, adherents of any ideology will use it to their own advantage. One way they do this is by pushing groups outside the conflict to be involved in it.

They attempt to make their adversary's position seem illegitimate and negative in the eyes of third parties. Protectionist groups in the Turkish system use all these tactics to discredit opponents, legitimize repression and mask unlawful schemes. Their easiest route to that end has been to control the media, including recently using deceitful bloggers outside Turkey.