Between Resistance and Surrender: Counter-Hegemonic Discourses in Turkish Satirical Magazines

Satirical magazines have historically had a strong presence in Turkey. Though their survival has often been troubled, they have nonetheless managed to establish a reputation among their readership as key voices of criticism against the misdeeds of the political class and the absurdities of certain sections of society. In the past, these publications have frequently exercised a counter-hegemonic function, especially at times of political crisis and during anti-democratic crackdowns. The growing authoritarianism of successive AKP governments has certainly provided fruitful material for satirical magazines, while also exposing these publications to the risk of becoming targets of repression.
This chapter investigates satirical magazines published during the so-called summer of Gezi (2013) and in the weeks following the military coup attempt of 15 July 2016. It aims to present an up-to-date reflection on their political potential. The focus is on major publications – namely, Gırgır, Penguen, LeMan and Uykusuz. The chapter draws on the tradition of British Cultural Studies to approach satire as a subdivision of culture – and thus as a site of struggle against political dominance. How do satirical magazines respond to political crises? Which tactics of resistance do they adopt? Which challenges do they pose to the hegemonic process? The author of this chapter argues that these magazines challenge hegemonic power at various levels, and discusses why, despite this fact, they seem to have lost their overall political potential.