Türkiye’s Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, has called on Muslim societies to reclaim control of their own narratives, warning that the international order is facing an unprecedented crisis of legitimacy and that those who built it are now among its chief saboteurs.
Speaking at the Muslim Impact Forum 2026 in Istanbul, Duran said the world was passing through a profound transformation that went far beyond the ordinary shifts seen in previous decades.
“Wars, genocides, pandemics and the erosion of trust in international institutions and norms clearly show that a critical threshold has been crossed,” he said, adding that the international community lacks a clear forward-looking vision.
Duran identified what he described as key indicators of systemic breakdown, saying major powers were increasingly reluctant to assume responsibility and that some founding actors of the global order had become its primary disruptors.
He also pointed to the declining effectiveness of institutions established to preserve stability and resolve conflicts.
He said the transformation was also evident in the field of communication, arguing that the world had moved beyond the “communication age” into what he called an “age of narratives”.
“In this new era, competition is no longer just about communication but about how realities are framed, interpreted and ultimately accepted by global public opinion,” Duran said.
He added that while messages can now reach global audiences within seconds, this speed also brings risks such as disinformation, manipulation and the blurring of lines between truth and falsehood.
Duran said that conflicts are no longer confined to the battlefield but are also fought through perception and information. He warned that fake videos, manipulated content and organised propaganda networks had become central features of modern conflict.
“As the Communications Directorate, we see the establishment of an information ecosystem based on accurate, verified and reliable data as one of our top priorities,” he said.
Highlighting Türkiye’s role in international affairs, Duran said the country had acted as a mediator and peacebuilder in several major crises, including those in Iraq, Syria, the South Caucasus, Ukraine and Gaza.
He said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s message that “the world is bigger than five” was a direct response to structural inequalities in the global system.
Muslim societies as norm-setters
Burhanettin Duran also criticised the historical marginalisation of Muslim societies in shaping the international order, noting that they had largely been excluded from decision-making processes when the system was established decades ago.
He referenced the work of Edward Said, particularly Orientalism and Covering Islam, arguing that Western narratives have long shaped perceptions of the Islamic world.
The Turkish head of Communications said Muslim societies must move beyond defensive positions imposed by what he described as Western-centric thinking and instead become norm-setters in the emerging global order.
“Today’s transition period presents not only risks but also opportunities,” he said.
“We must bring our values back into the system and overcome defensive approaches shaped by Islamophobia and Western-centric perspectives.”
Duran emphasised the role of technology companies, lobbying groups, intelligence networks and unaccountable digital platforms in shaping global narratives, saying they influence which conflicts are highlighted and whose voices are heard.
At the same time, he said this environment offers an opportunity for Muslim societies to reclaim and articulate their own narratives.
“If we cannot tell our own story, others will continue to tell it for us,” he said.
“And if others tell our story, they will define our place in the world.”
He called for stronger cooperation between governments, civil society, academics, journalists and artists, as well as greater investment in digital literacy and institutions to combat disinformation.
Duran expressed hope that dialogue and cooperation fostered at the forum would strengthen unity across the Muslim world and contribute positively to the broader international community.
