Crafting Turkish National Identity, 1919-1927: A Rhetorical Approach

This book examines Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's Büyük Nutuk (The Great Public Address) and identifies the five founding political myths of Turkey: the First Duty, the Internal Enemy, the Encirclement, the Ancestor, and Modernity. It offers a comprehensive rhetorical analysis of the speech and traces its discursive roots back to the Orkhon Inscriptions, epic tales, and ancient stories of Turkish culture. It argues that these myths have become permanent fixtures of Turkish political discourse since the establishment of Turkey and have been used by both supporters and detractors of Atatürk. The book provides examples of how past and present leaders have deployed these myths in their discourses and contributes to the heated debate on Kemalism by responding to the need to go back to the original sources to understand him.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Examining Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's Büyük Nutuk (The Great Public Address), this book delves into the five founding political myths that have shaped Turkey's political landscape: the First Duty, the Internal Enemy, the Encirclement, the Ancestor, and Modernity. Through a comprehensive rhetorical analysis of Atatürk's Nutuk, the book uncovers the intricate craftsmanship behind these myths, tracing their discursive roots back to the Orkhon Inscriptions, epic tales, and ancient stories of Turkish culture. It also critiques the long-term effects of these myths on Turkish political culture, challenging the notion that they have become permanent fixtures since Turkey's establishment.

The book offers a fresh perspective on Turkish political culture by examining how past and present leaders, including Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a vocal critic of Atatürk, have deployed these myths in their discourses. By returning to the original sources, Atatürk's speeches and statements, the book provides a deeper understanding of his ideology and contributes to the ongoing debate on Kemalism.

Contributing to emerging discourse-based approaches, this book is a valuable resource for scholars and students of Turkish Studies, History, Nationalism Studies, Political Science, Rhetorical Studies, and International Studies. It offers insights into the complex dynamics of Turkish politics and sheds light on the enduring influence of Atatürk's ideas on the nation's political discourse.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367715038