90 in Turkish Kurdish issue context the reproduction of nationalism the role of media: Milliyet newspaper sample

Nationalism, that is the product of modern age, has become an important instrument to design the society. Soverign class and its administrative power shape social consciousness by establishing hegemonic relations over nationalistic discourse. Nationalism, having a wide-ranging efficiency from micro daily relations to macro social relations, has an important functionality in Turkey. 'National' broadcasting policy of media, which is a significant ideological tool of the sovereign class, has an important role in striking roots of Nationalism by reaching wide social structure. Media has an undeniable contribution in the Turkish Nationalism's progress, that become apparent by showing standpat reactions to the presence of 'others'. Media having negatively brought out 'others' that vary according to periods undergo social 'lynching', also marked Kurds as opponents of 'national sentiments' by writing papers with negative discourse. Especially, the way how region's conflicting environment in 1990's were transmitted had an important influence in shaping common nationalist practice and perceptions of today. While observing forms of representation of the Kurds from Milliyet Newspaper's main pages between the years 1990-1999, it is determined that Nationalism can easily be fed by exercised discourses. Acts of Kurds are once more tagged as 'bad' by using descriptions 'separatist', 'terrorist' etc. frequently, on titles about news and images containing violence.