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ID: 178032

Public tears: populism and the politics of emotion in AKP's Turkey / Aslan, Senem

Aslan, Senem	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

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.

Key Words

Turkey ; Emotion ; Populism ; Recep Tayyip ; Erdogan ; AKP (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi) ;
Tears

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ID: 114260

Turkish leaders and foreign policy decision-making: lobbying for European Union membership / Sasley, Brent E

Sasley, Brent E	Journal Article
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2012.

Summary/Abstract

This article seeks to contribute to our understanding of Turkish foreign policymaking, which is an under-developed area of study. It does so by examining the role of individual leaders in the foreign policymaking process. It compares two Islamist prime ministers - Necmettin Erbakan and Recep Tayyip Erdogan - and the difference in their levels of emotional attachment to Islam and their pragmatism. The findings are also relevant for a more informed understanding of the potential outcomes of the revolutions in the Arab world, where attention to Islamist groups and their preferences have become paramount.

Key Words

Turkey ; Arab World ; Islamist Groups ; Necmettin Erbakan ; Recep Tayyip ; Foreign Policy

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