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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 15h

Adding to the regrettably relevant research.

We explain how authoritarian regimes use local forms of bureaucratic hamstringing and rhetorical vilification to delegitimize opposition actors.

www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 1d

Clear rhetorical vilification. It seeks to delegitimize protesters, justify crackdown, and deter joiners.

Naming: Labels that criminalize + evoke disgust
Blaming: Fabricated/exaggerated/preemptive claims of violence
Framing: Claims of wider nefarious networks

My take: pomeps.org/adding-insul...

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 2d

Humorous costumes and symbols do powerful work in anti-authoritarian protest.

They symbolically erode the power of the regime, humanize protesters, and promote viral sharing of images countering regime claims.

“Dismantling their narrative” captures it well.

See: Turkey’s Pikachu. And penguins.

Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 2d

www.wweek.com/culture/2025...

Can you put into words what that purpose is? You and the frog have really become icons of this protest.

There’s been a nice overall whimsy that has shown up. The frog is amazing. We had a bunch of other inflatable people here last night, too. I saw people playing Twister the other day.

What they rely on is fear. So by coming out in an absurdist manner, it speaks to them, to some extent, that we’re actually not that afraid.

It also dismantles their narrative a little bit. When they try to describe this situation as “war-torn,” it becomes much harder to take them seriously when they have to post a video saying [U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security] Kristi Noem is up on the balcony staring over the Antifa Army and it’s, like, eight journalists and five protesters and one of them is in a chicken suit.

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 2d

So many moves by the Trump administration are textbook authoritarian consolidation.

Autocrats use baseless fraud/corruption charges to delegitimize challengers, tangle them up in the court system to punish and exhaust them, and intimidate others into compliance.

See: Turkey et al.

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 2d

The Guardian reports that Letitia James has been indicted

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

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Reposted by Lisel Hintz

Dana El Kurd @danaelkurd.bsky.social · 3d

My article on the 20 point gaza "peace plan" is now out. Let me tell you why peace processes in the Israeli Palestinian conflict seem to keep failing, with a focus on Tony Blair the menace of the middle east

theconversation.com/a-gaza-peace...

Gaza peace plan risks borrowing more from Tony Blair’s failures in the Middle East than his success in Northern Ireland

The former British leader was tapped to lead redevelopment efforts in Gaza if a deal is agreed upon.

theconversation.com

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Reposted by Lisel Hintz

Cristian Farias @cristianfarias.com · 7d

This video of Chicagoans intervening to save a man from being abducted off the streets by ICE is making the rounds on Instagram.

Community action works.

Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DPZL2AL...

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 7d

News feeds are horrible. So I want to share news of my MENA writing solidarity group.

Week 130 starts Monday. 151 people joined at least one session. Some joined 100+. Email me if interested.

I hope others will start their own groups. I made a blueprint to do so: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Academic Solidarity in the Wake of Disaster: Blueprint for an Online Writing Support Group | PS: Political Science & Politics | Cambridge Core

Academic Solidarity in the Wake of Disaster: Blueprint for an Online Writing Support Group - Volume 57 Issue 3

www.cambridge.org

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 8d

Hence, for all our sake

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 8d

So much going on. But I want to keep the continuous resistance of Boğaziçi academics in our minds. For their sake, for all our sake.

Today marked the 1166th vigil. Demonstrators are protesting a government-imposed rector, curbs on academic freedom, and the targeting of students and faculty.

Can Candan @cncndn.bsky.social · 9d

2 Ekim 2025 Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Akademisyenleri Nöbeti no. 1166. Direnişin 5. yılı/1733. günü Boğaziçi Üniversitesi'nde #KabulEtmiyoruzVazgeçmiyoruz
October 2, 2025 Boğaziçi University Faculty Vigil #1166/5th year/1733rd day of the resistance. At Boğaziçi Univ. #WeDoNotAcceptWeDoNotGiveUp!

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Reposted by Lisel Hintz

Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 10d

“Authoritarianism succeeds by making dissent costly. When the authoritarian gale sends citizens running for cover, civil society organizations must anchor democratic principles.”

A must-read from my colleague and amazing writer Turkuler Isiksel.

democracyproject.org/posts/civil-...

Civil Society Institutions Under Authoritarian Encroachment

A broad range of views on democracy to help break the stalemate caused by partisan conflict.

democracyproject.org

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 16d

As usual, great analysis by @gonultol.bsky.social.

My standard response to those asking “Is Turkey pivoting to the West” has always been: No. It’s called hedging. Or strategic autonomy. Read TR media.

Erdoğan consistently positions Turkey as a mediator. It conveniently means you don’t take sides

Gönül Tol @gonultol.bsky.social · 16d

Today’s Trump–Erdoğan meeting underscored how dependent Turkey remains on the West for its defense needs, and on the East for its energy needs.

Despite claims at home and abroad that Ankara’s expanding indigenous defense sector makes it ‘strategically autonomous,’++

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 16d

Trader Yusuf olur bence :)

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 19d

Looks like Erdoğan will soon get the US state visit he didn't with Biden.

Given obstacles to F-35 talks, the symbolism of the visit looms large. In an optimistic move, though, Turkey lifted a few tariffs from Trump 1.0.

On those obstacles, my take w David Banks www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Symbolic Amplification and Suboptimal Weapons Procurement: Explaining Turkey’s S-400 Program

Turkey’s 2019 acquisition of Russian S-400 missile batteries is puzzling. Despite repeated threats of sanctions by the United States, North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally Turkey purchased a mult...

www.tandfonline.com

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 23d

Trump's emotional targeting of comedy figures is so telling. Hypermasculine strongmen DESPISE being made fun of.

Again, look to Turkey. Experts literally testified on whether comparing Erdoğan to Gollum was an insult. A guy sharing a meme was jailed.

And then there's the satire magazine closures.

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 23d

Ownership consolidation of news, digital, and entertainment platforms in the hands of the few is part of what we call media capture.

It's more insidious than outright seizure or censorship elements. It feeds on profit and quid pro quo cronyism.

5 companies own ~90% of Turkey's private media.

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 23d

In @nytopinion.nytimes.com

Larry Ellison, a major stakeholder in CBS and Paramount, now has CNN, HBO and a major share of TikTok in his sights, William Cohan writes. If all goes as expected, Ellison is poised “to become one of the most powerful media and entertainment moguls America has ever seen.”

Opinion | Larry Ellison Is Closing In on CNN, HBO and TikTok

Larry Ellison is now suddenly poised to become the most powerful media mogul America has ever seen.

nyti.ms

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 24d

I've felt very much the same way since 2016. Solidarity.

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 24d

In Turkey, this is called "havuz medyası" ("pool media"). It is achieved via:

1) Vertical dissemination of narratives from the government
2) Political economy ties that incentivize private channels' compliance PLUS
3) Intimidation that combine to produce (often anticipatory) compliance

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · 24d

And now ABC has pulled Jimmy Kimmel's show "indefinitely."

After major pressure from the FCC.

Tell me again why media crackdowns like the fines and TV broadcast bans imposed by Turkey's media watchdog, or the pay-to-play jailing of a powerful Turkish talent agent, "wouldn't happen in the US."

Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · Jul 18

Lots of speculation on how/why Colbert’s show was cancelled.

I distinctly remember giving a presentation on media capture in early Fall 2024. Audiences were skeptical that my insights from Turkey - or those of my panelists from India and Venezuela - had anything to do with the US.

Ah well.

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · Sep 12

We’re honored!

Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · Sep 11

Thank you so much Gerasimos! Hopefully the related project on foreign threat production that you saw at ISA will be out soon too. I appreciate your interest!

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Reposted by Lisel Hintz

Jonas Draege @draege.bsky.social · Sep 11

My article "Film-Making the Nation Great Again" with
@liselhintz.bsky.social is out now in @poppublicsphere.bsky.social!

doi.org/10.1017/S153...

We show how Turkey’s ruling party instrumentalizes history through emotionally evocative videos to legitimize the authoritarian incumbent

🧵

Author Screenshot (T.C. İletişim Başkanlığı 2020)

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · Sep 11

Thanks so much for your interest Dana! I’ll write a thread once I’m done running around at APSA.

I’m so glad @poppublicsphere.bsky.social let us include 12 screenshots. The images make exactly the point we’re arguing. Hope you enjoy it!

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · Sep 10

My article "Film-Making the Nation Great Again" with @draege.bsky.social is out in Perspectives!

Poli sci work on authoritarianism and populism largely overlooks audiovisual strategies.

Our multi-modal study uses a new dataset of 11,000+ regime YouTube videos in Turkey.

doi.org/10.1017/S153...

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · Sep 7

Thousands turned out in blazing heat to protest the militarization of DC and much more.

Multiple contingents uniting their grievances, lots of humor, atmosphere of care and solidarity. Reminded me of Gezi.

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Lisel Hintz @liselhintz.bsky.social · Sep 4

Fabulous piece, thanks for bringing visibility to this!

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