Role of Representations and Visual Images in Foreign Policy Decision Making and Constituting of Identities: Turkish Foreign Policy Towards the Palestinian Issue as a Case

Abstract

This paper discusses how representations and visual images consider a significant factor that led the Turkish foreign policy towards the Palestinian issue during the Justice and Development Party (JDP) era. Discourse theory of Foucault and other theorists, which is part of post-structuralism will be used to show how representations and discursive practices are communicating truth within discourse formation, and reflect a reality to the policy makers, leading to actions and to rising up of other discursive practices taken by the leaders of the Turkish government, in turn, these discursive practices entitled new role identity for Turkey among the Palestinians, and the oppressed people in Islamic and neighbor countries. Three case studies about Israeli violation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories will be used to show how photographs and media problematized, socialized and politicized some Israeli violations. While other case will be used to show how some issues face more violations by Israel, but they are not reached by media and their reality is not reflected by representations, consequently these humanitarian cases became unknown and actions that must be taken towards them are unthinkable. Key words: Representations, discursive practices, discursive formation, visual images, media, Turkish Foreign Policy, Arab-Israeli conflict. DOI: 10.7176/IAGS/81-05 Publication date: March 31 st 2020