Perceptions and lies in foreign policy

We live in an era where truth unfortunately often falls victim to lies and image. We experience this frequently in politics, economics, academia, diplomacy, social life, and daily life. We see this in the events in France, in the very justified and legitimate reactions of the public and the youth, and in the developments in the Middle East. 

In recent years, they are bending and twisting the concepts of public diplomacy and its essential components of soft power (culture, art, science, cinema, literature, sports, etc.)—which we hear about very often not only in the fields of political science, foreign policy, diplomacy, and international relations, but also in daily life—to such an extent that a lie travels around the world 10 times before the truth comes out. 

Yet, normally, public diplomacy is based on real information and documentation. It should be based on them. It is assumed to be based on them. In contrast, imperialist centers, in particular, resort to such black propaganda and dirty propaganda, and they spread false information by dressing it up so much that, inevitably, many people fall for these lies. In this way, they influence society in another country, persuade the citizens of another state, and gain their consent. They use social media very effectively, efficiently, and successfully in this regard. They stand out in psychological warfare, perception management, social engineering, and in short, in applying all the methods of dark warfare. 

For example, even if it cannot act as freely as it used to, the US is still far ahead in this regard. This is because, alongside the hard power tools at its disposal (political, economic, military), it is quite experienced in using soft power elements (from the English language to the US film, music, entertainment, food and beverage, fashion, and culture industries, and from US universities to the NBA). It also uses the power it holds for Israel in an endless, limitless, and irresponsible manner. It supports Israel's boundless brutality. 

Let us remember and ask: When the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved its embassy to this city, it was Trump who was sitting in the presidential chair. He had taken this step during his previous presidential term. How should one explain that the same Trump still receives great love and respect in the Islamic world and the Arab world today? 

How should one explain the suffocating silence, lack of reaction, and indifference in the 57-member Islamic world and the 22-member Arab world while Israel occupies and usurps Jerusalem—Jerusalem, which has 4 dominant, distinct, and obvious identities; which is Middle Eastern in a regional and cultural sense, considered holy by all three Abrahamic religions in a religious sense, Arab in an ethnic sense, and Palestinian in a national sense? 

In short, in our day, where information pollution is widespread and ignorance is organized and institutionalized, insisting on loyalty to reason, science, and truth stands before us as a great virtue.