This article aims to explore the views of the Turkish elite on the state of polarization in Turkey. By identifying four political frames—namely, harmony, continuity/decline, conspiracy, and conflict—that selected Turkish political and civil society elites use in discussing the phenomenon of polarization in the country through their contributions to a workshop and in-depth qualitative interviews, the article finds that there is a considerable degree of polarization among the Turkish elite regarding their views on the presence of polarization in Turkey. Moreover, this overlaps with the divide between the government and the opposition in the country. An analysis of the justificatory arguments employed in constituting the aforementioned frames shows that, while those elites who deny the existence of polarization seek its absence in essentialist characteristics of society, in reductionist comparisons with history, or in internal/external enemies, those who acknowledge polarization’s presence look for its roots in political and institutional factors and processes. The article highlights how, given the denial of polarization by the pro-government elite and the substantial gap between the two camps’ justificatory narratives, the currently reported high rates of polarization in Turkey can, at best, be expected to remain as is in the near future, barring a radical change in political constellations.

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当精英两极分化时：构建土耳其的两极分化辩论

本文旨在探讨土耳其精英对土耳其两极分化状态的看法。通过确定四个政治框架——即和谐、连续/衰落、阴谋和冲突——选定的土耳其政治和民间社会精英通过他们对研讨会的贡献和深入的定性访谈来讨论该国的两极分化现象，文章发现，土耳其精英对土耳其存在两极分化的看法存在相当程度的两极分化。此外，这与该国政府和反对派之间的分歧重叠。对构成上述框架所采用的论证论证的分析表明，那些否认两极分化存在的精英在社会的本质主义特征、与历史的还原论比较或内部/外部敌人中寻找它的缺席，而那些承认两极分化存在的人则在政治和制度因素和过程中寻找它的根源。文章强调，鉴于亲政府精英否认两极分化，以及两个阵营的正当性叙述之间存在巨大差距，目前报道的土耳其的高两极分化率充其量只能保持原样。不久的将来，除非政治星座发生根本性变化。那些承认两极分化存在的人会寻找其根源于政治和制度因素和过程。文章强调，鉴于亲政府精英否认两极分化以及两个阵营的正当性叙述之间存在巨大差距，目前报道的土耳其高两极分化率充其量只能预计在不久的将来，除非政治星座发生根本性变化。那些承认两极分化存在的人会寻找其根源于政治和制度因素和过程。文章强调，鉴于亲政府精英否认两极分化，以及两个阵营的正当性叙述之间存在巨大差距，目前报道的土耳其的高两极分化率充其量只能保持原样。不久的将来，除非政治星座发生根本性变化。