Reproducing the nation: 'banal nationalism' in the Turkish press

Nationalism is an elusive concept, resisting all attempts at formulating an all-embracing definition. Despite this Janus-faced character, however, the literature on nationalism abounds with definitions and theories designed t o explain its rise. In a groundbreaking study, Michael Billig (1995) challe nges the orthodox conceptions of nationalism and introduces the term 'banal nationalism' to cover all those unnoticed, routine practices and ideologic al habits which enable the daily reproduction of nationhood. The newspapers play a major role in this 'unmindful' process of reproduction. This articl e is inspired by Billig's day survey of British newspapers. Replicating Bil lig's analysis in the Turkish context, the article examines 38 newspapers o n a randomly selected day. In the course of the survey, the presentation an d content of the news are analysed and the articles of the columnists and t he advertisements are dissected. The results of the survey do not deviate f rom Billig's findings in the British case: the Turkish newspapers constantl y 'flag' nationhood. The fundamental premises of nationalist ideology are t aken for granted and all debates are conducted within the parameters of the nationalist discourse. The article concludes by raising the following ques tion: is there an alternative to this state of affairs?