Politics, the Press, and the PKK: Representations of the Kurdish Issue in Turkish Media Open Access

Cyr, Kathryn Laura (2015)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/3x816m72x?locale=en
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Abstract

This thesis examines the complex dynamic between politics, the media, and the Kurds in Turkey. The relationship between the government and the media has a history of suppression, politicization, and censorship; under the current administration, newspapers face financial intimidation, threats of arrest, and/or physical violence for reporting material out of line with the government agenda. This relationship is further complicated because of international politics, as the English language editions of Turkish newspapers must balance the concerns of domestic politics with a positive projection of Turkey imperative for its international image. The rights of the Kurdish population within the Turkish Republic, and the militancy of the PKK, a violent separatist group, are one of the most divisive political issues in the nation. This work examines how political biases, international considerations, and the press-government dynamic influence the portrayal of Kurds in the Turkish press.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

1. The Kurds, Turkey, and the PKK 12

2. Media and the Government in Turkey: History, Suppression, and Politics 43

3. Findings and Textual Analysis 63

Conclusion 97

Appendix A: List of Parties and Abbreviations 102

References 103

Citations of Analyzed Newspaper Articles 108

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