Interview with İbrahim Efe and Osman Ülker: Social media, politics, and the rise of the anti-refugee far-right in Turkey

İbrahim Efe and Osman Ülker tell us about their recent Journal of Language and Politics article, 'Social media, politics, and the rise of the anti-refugee far-right in Turkey', explaining why it is an increasingly important topic to study.

Photo by Maria Teneva on Unsplash

Like many of his European counterparts, Özdağ constructs a narrative in which every major problem—economic downturn, crime, security threats—is attributed to refugees. This repetitive framing fosters a perception among followers that migration is the root cause of national challenges.

Why did you decide to write this piece?

The rise of the populist far-right in Europe has been a significant political development over the past decade, with anti-immigration rhetoric forming a core part of its strategy. Although far-right parties differ in their historical and ideological backgrounds, they share a common pattern: framing immigration, particularly refugees, as the primary source of societal problems. We saw a clear example of this in the recent German elections.

Turkey has hosted 3.5 million Syrian refugees for over a decade, and in recent years, economic challenges have intensified public debates on migration. Against this backdrop, Turkey witnessed the emergence of its first explicitly anti-refugee far-right party, Zafer Partisi (Victory Party), in 2021. Just two years later, in the 2023 general elections, it gained unexpected visibility. Our article examines this emerging political phenomenon and assesses the extent to which Zafer Partisi aligns with the far right in the Turkish context. By analyzing the discursive strategies used by its leader, Ümit Özdağ, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), we sought to understand how the party constructs its anti-refugee stance and mobilizes public opinion.

What are the key takeaways?

One of the most striking findings was that Zafer Partisi’s rhetoric is shaped almost entirely by its leader. Ümit Özdağ’s use of social media, particularly X, plays a crucial role in amplifying the party’s message. His posts are direct, simple, and emotionally charged, making them highly effective in reaching younger audiences.

Like many of his European counterparts, Özdağ constructs a narrative in which every major problem—economic downturn, crime, security threats—is attributed to refugees. This repetitive framing fosters a perception among followers that migration is the root cause of national challenges. Interestingly, we observed how social media itself creates a fertile ground for such discourse. The fast-paced, often provocative nature of online engagement suits far-right populist strategies far better than traditional political communication. While mainstream parties struggle with the constraints of formal discourse, far-right leaders thrive in this dynamic, informal, and sometimes carnivalesque digital environment.

Additionally, we noted that Özdağ’s rhetoric is highly adaptable. He blends elements of nationalism, conspiracy theories, and selective narratives about history to reinforce his position. Despite claims of objectivity, his arguments frequently distort facts, which paradoxically strengthens their appeal among supporters. The ability to present a simplified and emotionally compelling narrative makes this discourse particularly resilient in the face of fact-checking or counterarguments.

Where do you plan to go next in your research?

Our study provided an initial, data-driven analysis of Turkey’s emerging anti-refugee far-right movement. We hope it encourages further research in this field, particularly studies that investigate the long-term impact of such discourse on Turkish society and policymaking.

One important next step is to explore how far-right parties influence mainstream political actors, even when they do not achieve significant electoral success. In some cases, these parties prioritize shaping public discourse over winning elections, effectively pressuring mainstream parties to adopt tougher migration policies. We want to analyze whether a similar dynamic is occurring in Turkey—how, for instance, the rhetoric of Zafer Partisi might be influencing the policy decisions of larger parties.

Another key area of interest is the broader relationship between social media and the far right. While our study focused on Özdağ’s X activity, future research could examine how other platforms, such as YouTube and TikTok, contribute to the spread of far-right narratives. Given the rapid evolution of digital communication, understanding these dynamics will be crucial for assessing the trajectory of populist politics in Turkey and beyond.