The anti-AK Party disease
With less than a week left until the upcoming elections on Nov. 1, the picture we now see has two main differences from the June 7 elections. Firstly, it is now an evident fact that the so-called anti-Justice and Development Party (AK Party) front is not a bloc that can act in unison any longer. Regardless of the scale of criticism the Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) directs at the AK Party, the MHP has also adopted a political position strictly against the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and the Republican People's party (CHP) as well. Consequently, it seems impossible for the AK Party to lose its ruling power. However, following the June 7 elections, such a psychology was born among the AK Party opponents. In addition, some surveys and fieldwork now indicate that the vote share of the AK Party has increased a few points. While experiencing such a disappointment, another blow came as a result of the outlawed PKK's decision to renew war. The state has not conducted massacres as the PKK expected, and about 200 people were killed, including dozens of children, due to the PKK. So, defaming the AK Party has become harder and harder. Particularly secular and left-wing circles have suffered a loss of legitimacy, since they identified themselves with PKK politics to an excessive degree.
This picture also means climbing depression in the anti-AK Party front as the elections are quickly approaching. They are confronted with a rival that could not be defeated in any way and grows even stronger at the times they think it is defeated. This circle does not have integrity and its political sense and legitimacy is gradually decreasing. It is not hard to predict that this could lead to a psychological rigidity and a militant identification. A quick look at social media displays not so healthy outcomes of the disappointment felt by secular and left-wing circles. Politics in Turkey is the function of solidifying one's own identity group, and mutual perception operations are being conducted for this purpose. In other words, the other is not an addressee of efforts to create a perception among a major part of secular and left-wing circles. Politics is not done to impress or persuade the other. Contrarily, it functions to strengthen the bonds within one's own circle. This is a strange form of politics that is self-enclosed and self-sufficient.
The above-mentioned situation is the second factor that makes the upcoming elections different from those of June 7. In June, there was a realistic bond between the electorate's emotions and politicians' language. The goal was to enable the HDP to exceed the 10 percent national election threshold and end the AK Party's ruling power. Opposition leaders also had distinct abilities of representation. It is presumed for the upcoming elections however, that the AK Party will not lose its ruling power and even might come to power alone even if the HDP passes the threshold. There is no longer a synergy between opposition and each one solely addresses their own base. CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's discourse that puts an emphasis on youth and the future seems effectual and likely to deal a blow on other opposition parties.
As a result of all these factors, media now undertakes the psychological burden of the elections. In the run up to the elections, which will probably not play out in accordance with their wishes, the only place where the anti-AK Party front finds comfort is the media. TV stations and newspapers are consoling their audiences by implying how obnoxious the ruling power is and how qualified the electorate is, preparing audiences for the next day with orientalist adulations.
Of course it can be said that a similar approach can also be observed in pro-AK Party media outlets. It can be emphasized that there is also a superficial and partial habit of interpretation through rose-colored glasses among them. Pro-AK Party media outlets, however, do not have high sales rates and do not imply a function of psychological support in terms of readers. However, the anti-AK Party front's media outlets enjoy higher sales rates and satisfy people's need to hear insults directed at the AK Party. Those who became afflicted with a disease as they were unable to do politics are now awaiting for the inevitable future, thinking that prolonging the disease is politics.
This picture also means climbing depression in the anti-AK Party front as the elections are quickly approaching. They are confronted with a rival that could not be defeated in any way and grows even stronger at the times they think it is defeated. This circle does not have integrity and its political sense and legitimacy is gradually decreasing. It is not hard to predict that this could lead to a psychological rigidity and a militant identification. A quick look at social media displays not so healthy outcomes of the disappointment felt by secular and left-wing circles. Politics in Turkey is the function of solidifying one's own identity group, and mutual perception operations are being conducted for this purpose. In other words, the other is not an addressee of efforts to create a perception among a major part of secular and left-wing circles. Politics is not done to impress or persuade the other. Contrarily, it functions to strengthen the bonds within one's own circle. This is a strange form of politics that is self-enclosed and self-sufficient.
The above-mentioned situation is the second factor that makes the upcoming elections different from those of June 7. In June, there was a realistic bond between the electorate's emotions and politicians' language. The goal was to enable the HDP to exceed the 10 percent national election threshold and end the AK Party's ruling power. Opposition leaders also had distinct abilities of representation. It is presumed for the upcoming elections however, that the AK Party will not lose its ruling power and even might come to power alone even if the HDP passes the threshold. There is no longer a synergy between opposition and each one solely addresses their own base. CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu's discourse that puts an emphasis on youth and the future seems effectual and likely to deal a blow on other opposition parties.
As a result of all these factors, media now undertakes the psychological burden of the elections. In the run up to the elections, which will probably not play out in accordance with their wishes, the only place where the anti-AK Party front finds comfort is the media. TV stations and newspapers are consoling their audiences by implying how obnoxious the ruling power is and how qualified the electorate is, preparing audiences for the next day with orientalist adulations.
Of course it can be said that a similar approach can also be observed in pro-AK Party media outlets. It can be emphasized that there is also a superficial and partial habit of interpretation through rose-colored glasses among them. Pro-AK Party media outlets, however, do not have high sales rates and do not imply a function of psychological support in terms of readers. However, the anti-AK Party front's media outlets enjoy higher sales rates and satisfy people's need to hear insults directed at the AK Party. Those who became afflicted with a disease as they were unable to do politics are now awaiting for the inevitable future, thinking that prolonging the disease is politics.
Last Update: October 28, 2015 02:05