Cultural and creative industries as an international public relations strategy: A study on Turkish TV series in Latin American market

In this study, Latin American adventure of Turkish television series which started in Chile in 2014 is analyzed within the context of international public relations, public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy and soft power; Turkish TV series are considered as a creative culture industry product, and the success of cultural products in Chile is evaluated within the framework of international public relations. The main aim of this study is to examine the success of Turkish television series abroad, especially in the Latin American market, and to determine the possible results of this effect. It is not possible to see Turkish TV series as a simple entertainment and time-consuming tool anymore; Turkish series broadcast abroad should be considered as a culture industry product or even as an international public relations strategy since there is no doubt that the long-term deep effects of Turkish television series being broadcast and becoming popular in different countries will be examined in the very near future. It is important to know what these effects will be, and to provide data on what to do in the future. Throughout the study, literature review focuses on international public relations and culture: public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, soft power, culture industry and creative industry are discussed under these umbrella terms. Within the scope of the research conducted in Chile in the research part, the success of the Turkish series in Chile, which is the first country in Turkish television series in Latin America, has been examined using case study techniques. Following this, in-depth interviews were conducted in Chile. This study concludes that Turkish television series serve as a source of information regarding Turkey and Turkish culture and also break down the prejudices against Turkey while incresing Turkey's soft power in Chile. Hence they should be considered as an international public relations strategy.