| ID | 178032 |
| Title Proper | Public tears |
| Other Title Information | populism and the politics of emotion in AKP's Turkey |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Aslan, Senem |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article analyzes the increased visibility and frequency of public weeping by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Building on the literature that conceptualizes populism as a particular political style, I argue that crying in public can be understood as a populist performative act of legitimation, serving to dramatize the basic components of the populist discourse. I also contend that the increased frequency of public weeping by Erdoğan relate to two major dilemmas that populists in power encounter. Both dilemmas stem from the growing discrepancy between populist rhetoric and practice, diminishing the credibility of the populist leader. Signaling emotional authenticity, Erdoğan’s tearfulness serves to communicate a message of closeness to the people and sustain the anti-elite rhetoric at a time when his political power and economic wealth increasingly set him apart from the politically and economically marginalized. It also attempts to justify authoritarian practices while sustaining the claim to rule in the name of popular power and mobilize constituents against the opposition. |
| `In' analytical Note | International Journal of Middle East Studies Vol. 53, No.1; Feb 2021: p.1-17 |
| Journal Source | International Journal of Middle East Studies 2021-03 53, 1 |
| Key Words | Turkey ; Emotion ; Populism ; Recep Tayyip ; Erdogan ; AKP (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi) ; Tears |