Memory, Patriarchy and Economy in Turkey

Through the narrative analysis of texts, ranging from political speeches to museum documents as well as graffiti and posters from protests, this book tries to shed light on contemporary Turkish politics as well as offering a glance into how narratives operate in the political realm. Following the journey of political narratives and counternarratives in the Turkish context facilitates the mapping of the cultural terrain while being attentive to power, resistance and dynamism.
By analyzing narratives of collective memory, patriarchy and economic development, all of which are deeply embedded culturally, it traces the ways in which narratives shape politics. The chapters deal with issues such as the role historical narratives play in hegemonic power struggles among political parties, the narrative resources upon which populist regimes draw, how economic development narratives affect prospects of and threats against democratic practices and institutions, and how protesters subvert dominant notions of citizenship through counternarratives.

Author Biography

Meral Uğur-Çınar is Assistant Professor in Political Science at Bilkent University, Ankara, Turkey. She received her PhD in Political Science from University of Pennsylvania. She was a Mellon Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Fellow at the New School for Social Research before coming to Bilkent. She has been selected as National Center for Institutional Diversity Exemplary Diversity Scholar by University of Michigan and Distinguished Young Scientist by the Science Academy, Turkey. She is also the recipient of the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Award. Her research interests include political narratives, political institutions, political regimes, collective memory, social movements, and gender. She is the author of the book titled Collective Memory and National Membership: Identity and Citizenship Models in Turkey and Austria (Palgrave). A chapter (coauthored with Rogers Smith) can be found in Political Peoplehood: The Roles of Values, Interests and Identities (Chicago University Press). Her articles appeared in PS: Political Science & Politics; Political Studies; Political Quarterly; Democratization; Politics & Gender; Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State and Society; Gender, Work, and Organization; Middle Eastern Studies; Mediterranean Politics; British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies; Turkish Studies; Memory Studies; Social Indicators Research; and Politics, Religion & Ideology. She is also the in-coming co-editor of Gender, Place, and Culture.