Emotional Landscape of Activism in Turkey: Hope and Emotional Sustainability Under Authoritarianism. In Paul Kubicek (ed.), Paths of De-Democratization in Turkey 

Abstract

This chapter delves into the emotional aspects of activism and political dissent in Turkey by focusing on the period of growing authoritarianism, political repression, and heightened polarization following the Gezi Protests. Drawing on fieldwork and interviews with civil society activists, the discussion examines the affective lives of activists, their coping mechanisms, and emotion work under a high-risk political environment and the incessant authoritarian governance of the AKP (Justice and Development Party). The analysis benefits from the literature on social movements that tackle activist burnout, effects of high-risk activism, and emotional sustainability as well as critical perspectives that scrutinize the dialectical constitution and fluctuation of affects with a focus on hope and hopelessness. Along with unpacking the complex emotional landscape of activism and dissent in contemporary Turkey, the chapter reflects on the circumstances that generate hope and hopelessness and makes the case for the importance of the notion and mechanisms of emotional sustainability for activist organizations and solidarity projects.

Sözen, Ü. (2025). Emotional Landscape of Activism in Turkey: Hope and Emotional Sustainability Under Authoritarianism. In Paul Kubicek (ed.), Paths of De-Democratization in Turkey (Culture, Society, and Political Economy in Turkey series), New York: Peter Lang, pp. 107-129.

Link to Article: https://www.peterlang.com/document/1510506#