[Public Diplomacy] Tribute to the sultan: the disinvitation of Orhan Pamuk by Sarajevo (Part 8.1/8)

On this series: This blog post belongs to a series under the title and leading question "Can networks of local governments challenge the rise of cross-border neo-populism?". The complete series are my contribution to an edited volume by Dr. Agata Rogoś, postdoctoral research fellow at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Agata's Edited volume's working title is "Permeability...

[Public Diplomacy] The role of ‚Renommiergeld‘ in a culturally annotated economy (Part 7/8)

Whether free iftar meals, collective circumcision ceremonies for Balkan boys by Turkish circumcisers (sünnet şölenleri), renovations and constructions of mosques, hammams, fountains, public squares, bridges or similar activities: Turkish public diplomats' activities are disproportionally often religiously embellished. Yet, these activities are not pursued solely for altruistic reasons or for „their ‘magical value’, which Mauss saw was 'still present in sadaqa’“, as some authors have interpreted other forms of gift exchange under Islamic auspices. The gift, as Mauss had it, involves and demands reciprocity. In the case of Turkish-Bosnian cross-border neo-populism, a „mixed economy“ is at play between AKP-governed, Turkish municipalities and their Bosnian counterparts: spiritual categories are distinctively present – while they are blended and traded together with the „hard currencies“ of the capitalist market of public opinions. This means that the gifted („the invested“, „the helped ones“) are expected to deliver, in return, to their donor with consent and supportive public opinions.