Last of us: illiberal science policies and erosion of academia in Turkey

ABSTRACT

This essay aims to portray the difficulties of doing gender research in a country ruled by an illiberal, anti-gender government. Utilizing Andrea Petö’s (2016) idea of polypore state agencies, the essay will outline the process of academic erosion in Turkey and what lies ahead. Similar paths are evident in multiple countries, creating an ominous academic terrain for gender researchers. Subsequently, the essay seeks to direct attention to this erosion and call for solidarity to navigate this historical landscape.

KEYWORDS:

• Anti-gender
• polypore state
• academic erosion
• illiberal science policies
• pseudo-science

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aslı Çarkoğlu

Aslı Çarkoğlu is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Kadir Has University since 2013. She has a BA in Psychology from Bogazici University, Istanbul (1993). She received her MS (1995) and her PhD (2003) in Family Studies from Purdue University, Human Development and Family Studies program. Dr Carkoglu teaches close relationship dynamics, family systems, human development, and health psychology. She works in the areas of gendered relational dynamics in health and wellbeing, and tobacco control.