The effect of the Turkish series on international relations in the middle east : Mass media perspective

The media is one of the elements that have the ability to manipulate shape foreign policy or international relations. Many people also feel that the evidence supporting media influence is purely subjective, and thus hard and fast evidence is hard to prove. It seems that there is a possibility that the media, the series, and the programs they broadcast will influence the population or the government. Three strategies can be employed to attain this impact or influence: First, impacting the public will pressure governments to make decisions. Second, by directly influencing the decision-makers themselves by getting them to act proactively to shape public perceptions about what they have just seen in the media, and third by causing a political reaction due to the expected or perceived public response to televised series operas. Recently, Turkish series have played a major role in influencing the Arab audience, especially series of a cultural and social nature, such as The Lost Years series, which I mentioned as an example. This series is considered among the social series that have had a huge impact on the Arab viewer. In Arab countries in particular, Turkish series have had a significant influence on people and political decision-makers. For example, Turkish series have encouraged tourism in Türkiye, and some countries have sought to establish projects in Türkiye under the influence of Turkish series. Hence, it can be argued that Turkish series are considered a means of communication, discourse, and forming public opinion. They have now turned into a tool for guiding political processes within the framework of the use of soft power. This study will mainly focus on vii how Turkish series alter Arab viewers' perspective towards Türkiye, its role, and its level of development. It will shed light on the Turkish series as a means of soft power for Türkiye towards the Arab countries and its impact on the Arab viewer. Examples from Turkish series like The Lost Years and Nour series will be mentioned in the context of emphasizing the importance and role of the media, especially in MBC channel in the Middle East.