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Home is where the Heart is? Neo-Ottomanist Sea & Space Military Doctrines in 'New Turkey'
Abstract
Recently, Turkish political elites introduced two very aggressive notions of homeland covering seas and outer space: the so-called Blue Homeland (Mavi Vatan) and the Cosmic Homeland (Uzay Vatan). The first one covers Turkish maritime rights, and the Cosmic Homeland relates to Turkey’s sovereignty in outer space. Turkish foreign policies are reframed in the light of these newly introduced concepts of homeland leading to confrontations in the Mediterranean and Aegean seas. A new assertive space program was introduced with fanfare to claim Turkey’s extra-terrestrial rights in cosmic space. Secular and pious nationalism, irredentist dreams of Neo-Ottomanism and military expansionism constitute the pillars of these fresh notions of homeland. In the introduction process mostly produced by state media and apparatuses Turkish public is exposed to various material like anthems, video-clips, op-eds, infographics, TV programs, animations, and agit-prop pieces for the promotion of Blue Homeland and Cosmic Homeland. These various propaganda materials were well-received and appropriated by the masses. In this presentation by examining the variety of the material produced I will shed some light on the highly politicized concepts of homeland and discuss the dreams of the Turkish elite and the masses which in essence are yearning for a militarized, expansionist and Turkish Sunni empire.
Discipline
Sociology
Geographic Area
Turkey
Sub Area
Cultural Studies