*CFP* "HUMAN RIGHTS IN TURKEY: A FADING SHADOW OF DEMOCRACY", CHAPTER BOOK

Over the last several decades, Turkey has been confronted with the anti-democratic practices of its government. The country has been unable to resolve critical issues regarding and affecting the rights of the nation’s various minority ethnic groups, those who hold beliefs and ideologies different from the mainstream and the sanctioned or deal with issues of gender, which are main concerns of human rights defenders (Langley, 2002). Even though in the early 2000s, Turkey took several critical steps in the name of democratization as a result of its desire to join the European Union, this progress was not sustained. The country advertised its goals as increasing democratic values, integrating laws with European standards, increasing the prosperity of her citizens, and showing concern for the general welfare of Turkish society. During this period, Turkey achieved considerable progress and became recognized as one of the most successful countries in the world in decreasing human right violations and promoting democratic values (Abramowitz, 2018). Such progress ended as the politicians could not find their way to unite the country’s differing interests into a politically cohesive whole. Under the current government, in fact, Turkish society has become more polarized than ever before under an autocratic regime that has brought a halt to the democratic transformation.

*CFP* "TRANSNATIONALIZATION OF TURKISH TELEVISION SERIES", EDITED BOOK

Turkish television series have recently become a great phenomenon: With the rise of their popularity as of the 2010s, they have been among the most viewed programmes in the countries they are exported to. They have become a direct and “live” representation of Turkey turning into one of the prominent components of global presence and soft power. This doubtlessly creates a snowball effect that needs to be studied within the political, economic, cultural and social contexts. This call for chapters is for an edited book titled “Transnationalization of Turkish Television Series”.

Turkey has the second place in global television series sales. Turkish television series have been named as soap operas and telenovelas in many countries. For the last two years, Turkish television series have been competing in the category of “best telenovela” in International Emmy Awards. However, in the meantime, more people are calling Turkish television series Turkish dizis since it is becoming a brand by itself with its duration, production techniques, scenarios, and music.