"Local and National" Discourse A Tool for the De-Mobilization of Turkish Model

Although the "local and national" discourse has occupied the Turkish political scene for a long time and regularly re-emerges whenever it serves the government's political agenda, it was commonly used between 2018 and 2020. Despite its pervasive presence in the public sphere, the term "local and national" remains a vague concept without a clear definition. One of the most common definitions of "local and national" production is to refer to a product designed, financed, and produced on Turkish soil by a Turkish company; therefore, the definition suggests an economic meaning. On the other hand, this definition does not involve the role of the state in this production model. The "economic" definition also does not cover other meanings of the discourse or the nature of the relationship between the state and business associations. This research does not merely cover the economic meaning of the "local and national" discourse. It also examines how the discourse becomes as an instrument to pursue, political and ideological objectives and enforcing an identity. This research focuses on two specific business associations: the first one is the Turkish Industry and Business Association (Türk Sanayicileri ve nsanlar Dernei-TÜSAD), and the second one is Independent Industrialist and Businessmen Association (Müstakil Sanayici ve adamlar Dernei-MÜSAD). TÜSAD is the oldest Business association in Turkey. They represent the biggest capitalist corporations of Turkey. MÜSAD emerged as an alternative to TÜSAD and they represent the Anatolian investors and small bourgeoisie. Their actions are widely influenced by Islam, even their understanding of capitalism is taunted by Islamic concepts. These associations are two of the largest business associations in Turkey, and therefore they are included in this research to identify the relationship between state and business associations, their influence in the making of the "local and national" discourse, and to clarify its political, economic, political-ideological, and enforcing an identity functions of the "local and national" discourse.