Overview

The "Üst akıl" (Turkish for "mastermind" or "supramind") conspiracy theory posits the existence of an all-powerful, secretive agency or institution that orchestrates a comprehensive conspiracy to weaken, destabilize, and ultimately dismember Turkey. This alleged "metamind" or "deep world state" is often ambiguously linked to foreign powers, particularly the government of the United States, and is believed to be behind various political and social events perceived as hostile to Turkish interests. The theory serves as a grand framework to explain a wide range of perceived challenges facing Turkey, suggesting a hidden agenda that transcends national borders with the aim of control.

Core Claims

• A clandestine, all-powerful "mastermind" or "supramind" operates globally with a specific agenda against Turkey.
• This "Üst akıl" orchestrates various political actors and actions hostile to Turkey, including diverse non-state entities such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and the Fethullah Gülen movement.
• The ultimate goal of this hidden agency is to weaken, dismember, or control Turkey, often implying a desire to prevent Turkey from regaining past grandeur or asserting its independence.
• The theory can broadly represent the entirety of Western civilization as a collective "Üst akıl" working against Turkey.

Real-World Impact

The concept of "Üst akıl" has become highly influential in the public sphere and political discourse in Turkey. It has been strategically employed to legitimize political motives, delegitimize opposing views, assert a nationalistic agenda, and gain mainstream recognition for certain narratives. Following the failed coup attempt in 2016, the "Üst akıl" discourse became a pivotal tool for pro-government media to justify government policies and discredit dissent. Political parties frequently deploy such conspiracy theories to advance their agendas and interpret international politics, making conspiracism a regular feature of mainstream Turkish politics.

Prominent Figures

• Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: The President of Turkey coined the term "Üst akıl" in 2014.
• Bülent Arınç: An early user of the term, reportedly in 2014.
• Journalists and Popular Authors: Many journalists and authors creatively allude to "Üst akıl" in their writings, contributing to its prevalence in Turkish media.
• Global Financial Families (cited in broader context): Some interpretations, when discussing the global "mastermind," may refer to powerful financial families such as Rockefeller, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Kuhn Loebs, Rothschild, Warburg, Lazard, and Moses Seifs.

Origins & Evolution

The term "Üst akıl" was notably coined by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2014. It is considered a variation or evolution of earlier Turkish conspiracy theories involving "dış mihrak" (external powers). The concept is deeply rooted in historical events and geopolitical anxieties, particularly those associated with the "Sèvres syndrome," which reflects a long-standing suspicion of foreign influence on Turkish politics. Over time, the theory has adapted and gained widespread acceptance across various political factions in Turkey, including Islamist, nationalist, Kemalist, leftist, and social-democratic groups, with its use intensifying particularly after the 2016 coup attempt.

Mainstream Perspective

From a mainstream perspective, "Üst akıl" is widely regarded as a conspiracy theory. Experts and fact-checkers generally categorize it within the broader phenomenon of prevalent conspiracism in Turkish society and politics. Scholars suggest the widespread belief in such theories in Turkey can be attributed to a desire to compensate for "lost Ottoman grandeur," a perceived humiliation of Turkey's global standing, and a relatively low level of media literacy among the population. While acknowledging that not all conspiracy theories are inherently false, the "Üst akıl" theory is often seen as implausible due to its all-encompassing nature and resistance to falsification, consistent with how many psychologists view such beliefs as exaggerations of universal cognitive tendencies rather than pathological conditions.