TURGUT ÖZAL AND THE BULGARIAN TURKS: BUILDING A POLITICAL IMAGE (1983-1989)

Date

2024-12-02

Author

Zengel, Murat

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This thesis illustrates how Turgut Özal utilized both internationally and domestically renowned symbolic figures, such as Naim Süleymanoğlu and Aysel Özgür, in the construction of his political image within the context of propaganda during the oppression of the Turkish minority in Bulgaria by the Bulgarian government between 1983-1989. Focusing on the high-profile cases of internationally renowned Olympic weightlifter Naim Süleymanoğlu‘s defection to Turkey and the detainment of Aysel Özgür in Bulgaria, the study explores how these figures were instrumentalized in Özal‘s propaganda activities. While doing this, this thesis adopts a framework that examines the challenges faced by the Turkish minority in Bulgaria within the contexts of historical background between 1878 and 1983, then analyses Turgut Özal‘s strategic approaches through the cases of Naim Süleymanoğlu and Aysel Özgür in the second cold war era from the perspective of international relations and propaganda theory. This thesis argues that the successes, recognition, and victimization of two symbolic figures were utilized by Özal to construct his political image during his prime ministry, marked by political challenges.

Subject Keywords

Turgut Özal, Naim Süleymanoğlu, Aysel Özgür, Cold War, Propaganda

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/112922

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis