Reviving Ottomanism through Soft Power: The Case of Turkish Television Drama Diriliş: Ertuğrul

Since assuming power in 2002, Recep Tayyip Erdogan's leadership in Turkey has sparked substantial scholarly interest and critical analysis regarding the emergence of a new cultural wave. Scholars have observed a noteworthy departure from the Western cultural trajectory set in motion by Kemal Atatürk, as Erdogan's administration has ushered in a novel cultural paradigm that amalgamates Turkey's national heritage with an Islamic value system. This cultural shift is anticipated to significantly impact Turkey's position vis-à-vis Europe. Scholars argue that a return to traditional Islamic tenets in Turkish politics would seek to rekindle the collective imagination of the bygone Ottoman Empire. Central to this analysis is the recognition that Turkey actively produces and disseminates cultural artifacts with a specific intention in mind. Consequently, this study aims to comprehensively examine the new cultural wave sweeping through Turkey, with particular emphasis on the production and dissemination strategies employed in the popular television drama, Diriliş: Ertuğrul, (English Title : Resurrection : Ertugrul) which is produced by the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation in 2014.

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