The Presidency’s Head of Communications Burhanettin Duran delivered a wide-ranging address at the Muslim Impact Forum (MIF) 2026, held at a hotel in Ataköy, Istanbul, where he discussed global instability, shifting international power structures, and the growing role of narratives in shaping world politics.

Welcoming participants to Istanbul, which he described as “one of the leading centres of Islamic civilisation,” Duran said the world is undergoing a “profound transformation” that goes far beyond a normal shift in the international system.

“We have crossed a critical threshold”

Duran argued that current global conditions reflect a deeper crisis, pointing to wars, genocides, pandemics, and declining trust in international institutions.

“Wars, genocides, pandemics, and the growing loss of trust in international institutions and norms show that we have crossed a critical threshold,” he said, adding that the global system is experiencing a true turning point without a clear vision for what comes next.

He said two key signs define the current order: major powers no longer assume global responsibility, and former architects of the international system have become, in some cases, its “main destroyers,” failing to prevent or stop major humanitarian crises.

Shift from communication to “age of narrative”

A significant part of Duran’s speech focused on what he described as a transformation in global communication.

While the world is often referred to as living in an “Age of Communication,” Duran argued it has already entered an “Age of Narrative,” where the competition is no longer about information flow but about how reality is interpreted.

“Today, any message can reach the entire world within seconds,” he said, adding that the idea of a “global village” has become a daily reality but also a source of manipulation and disinformation.

He warned that fake content, propaganda networks, and manipulated media are increasingly shaping public perception, stating that modern conflicts are now fought “in minds, across screens, and through perception itself.”

Türkiye’s role and global system critique

Duran highlighted Türkiye’s role in international crises, stating that under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the country has sought to act as a mediator in conflicts ranging from Syria and Iraq to Ukraine, Azerbaijan-Armenia tensions, and Gaza.

He also referenced Erdoğan’s slogan “The world is bigger than five,” describing it as a critique of what he called the imbalance and paralysis of the current global order.

According to Duran, Muslim societies were historically excluded from shaping the post-World War II international system and instead became “norm-takers rather than norm-makers.”

He also cited academic Edward Said’s works Orientalism and Covering Islam, arguing that Western narratives have long shaped perceptions of the Muslim world through stereotypes and unequal representation.

Call for stronger Muslim narrative and institutions

Duran emphasized what he described as a historic opportunity for Muslim societies to become active “norm-makers” in the emerging global order.

He called for stronger communication capacity, greater digital literacy, and institutional development to counter disinformation and Islamophobia.

“Governments alone are not enough. Scholars, journalists, artists, and citizens must be part of this effort,” he said.

He further stressed the need for Muslim societies to establish their own media platforms, research centers, and strategic communication institutions to produce reliable information proactively rather than reactively.

“If we fail to tell our own story, others will continue to tell it for us,” Duran warned, adding that this would determine how Muslim societies are perceived globally.

Closing his remarks, Duran expressed hope that the forum would strengthen unity and cooperation across the Muslim world and contribute positively to global peace and understanding.

He also shared a message on his NSosyal account reiterating concerns about disinformation, the role of digital platforms in modern conflicts, and Türkiye’s efforts to build a “reliable and verified information ecosystem” under state coordination.

The Muslim Impact Forum 2026 continues in Istanbul with discussions expected to focus on global governance, media narratives, and the role of Muslim societies in shaping international discourse.