Extreme Nationalist Discourse in the Early Period of the Turkish Republic and Its Reflection in the Turkish Media: The Case of the Journal Gök-Börü

Abstract

Since its emergence, nationalism has been maintaining its influence on societies and media has enabled the re-production of nationalist ideologies, rituals, symbols, myths and discourses. Nationalism has changed and transformed both over time and among different political regimes and societies. Therefore, in order to fully understand the current state of nationalist ideologies, it is important to examine the historical development of nationalism and its reflections in media. This article examines the emergence and early period of Turkish nationalism and its reflections in the Turkish media. After the establishment of the Turkish Republic, particularly during the period between 1923 and 1950, new notions and institutions settled into the society. One of the most important notions during that time was nationalism given that the new Turkish Republic was established as a nation state. Turkish nationalism is mostly affected by political and social changes of the external world. Between the two world wars, extreme nationalist ideologies were popular all around the globe. This atmosphere of the external world also affected Turkish nationalist discourse and its reflections in the media. "Gok-boru" Journal is an important example of extreme Turkish nationalist discourse. The Journal was published in the Autumn of 1942 when Germany was pushing through Russia. This period was also a time when extreme nationalism and racism was occurring in the world and in Turkey, both were popular concepts. The journal can be differentiated from the other Turkic magazines published during the same period by its harsh rhetoric and ideas about blood nationalism.