X’te Politikanın Anlam Üretimi: Popülizmin Yükselişi

Öz

Bu çalışma, Türkiye’de popülist siyaset pratiklerinin sosyal medya aracılığıyla nasıl inşa edildiğini ve özellikle mültecilere yönelik söylemlerin bu bağlamda nasıl şekillendiğini analiz etmektedir. Popülizmin, halk ve elitler arasındaki gerilimi vurgulayan, ulusal kimlik ve güvenlik kaygılarını ön plana çıkaran bir siyasal strateji olarak işlev gördüğü öne sürülmektedir. Çalışmada, Zafer Partisi Genel Başkanı Ümit Özdağ’ın X (eski adıyla Twitter) platformundaki mültecilere ilişkin 2024 yılı boyunca yaptığı paylaşımlar netnografik yöntemle incelenmiştir. Analiz sürecinde, Özdağ’ın söylemleri dört ana tema çerçevesinde değerlendirilmiştir: (1) Halk ve elit ayrımı, (2) Ekonomik kaynakların adaletsiz dağıtımı, (3) Güvenlik kaygıları ve kriminalizasyon, (4) Demografik değişim korkusu. Bulgular, Özdağ’ın sosyal medya paylaşımlarında yoğun biçimde popülist ve milliyetçi söylemler kullandığını ortaya koymaktadır. Halkın mağduriyetini vurgulayan ve elitleri sorumlu tutan bir söylem üzerinden inşa edilen bu mesajlar, ekonomik ve güvenlik tehditleriyle ilişkilendirilerek desteklenmiştir. Mülteciler, ekonomik kaynakların adaletsiz dağıtımının ve artan suç oranlarının başlıca nedeni olarak sunulurken, demografik değişim vurgusuyla ulusal kimliğin tehdit altında olduğu iddia edilmiştir. Bu çalışma, sosyal medyanın popülist liderler için bir siyasal mobilizasyon aracı olarak nasıl işlev gördüğünü ve dijital platformların popülist söylemlerin üretimi ile dolaşımı üzerindeki etkisini incelemektedir. Sonuç olarak, sosyal medya, popülist siyasetçilerin kamuoyunu şekillendirme ve geniş kitlelere ulaşma süreçlerinde önemli bir alan olarak öne çıkmaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Popülizm
• Popülist Lider
• Siyasal Söylem
• Sosyal Medya
• Netnografi

Meaning-Making of Politics on X: The Rise of Populism

Öz

This study analyzes how populist political practices are constructed through social media in Turkey and how discourses targeting refugees are shaped within this context. It is argued that populism functions as a political strategy that emphasizes the tension between the people and the elites while foregrounding concerns related to national identity and security. The study employs a netnographic approach to examine the social media posts of Ümit Özdağ, the Chairman of the Victory Party, regarding refugees on X (formerly Twitter) throughout 2024. The analysis categorizes Özdağ’s discourse into four main themes: (1) the people-elite divide, (2) the unequal distribution of economic resources, (3) security concerns and criminalization, and (4) fears of demographic change. The findings indicate that Özdağ extensively employs populist and nationalist rhetoric in his social media posts. These messages construct a narrative emphasizing public victimization while holding the elites accountable, often linking this narrative to economic and security threats. Refugees are portrayed as the primary cause of the unequal distribution of economic resources and rising crime rates, while demographic change is framed as a threat to national identity. This study explores how social media functions as a tool for political mobilization among populist leaders and examines the impact of digital platforms on the production and circulation of populist discourse. Ultimately, the study underscores the critical role of social media in shaping public opinion and expanding the reach of populist political actors.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Populism
• Populist Leader
• Political Discourse
• Social Media
• Netnography

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