Legitimizing Illiberalism: The Construction of Civilizational Identity by the Justice and Development Party in Türkiye

Abstract

Since its establishment, Türkiye has turned its side towards the West and has equated modernization with Westernization to a large extent. This situation did not change for a long time after the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi; AKP) came to power and Türkiye even managed to cover a significant distance in its negotiations with the EU for membership in these years. However, following the second AKP victory in the June 2007 parliamentary elections, relations with the West began to deteriorate and eventually the illiberal turn taken by the government on the grounds that Türkiye was facing an existential threat after the failed coup attempt in 2016 led to a serious rupture in these relations. Facing problems with the Western actors, the Turkish government began to counter criticisms by referring to historical antagonistic relations between the West and the East signifying a firm estrangement from the Western civilization. It highlighted Türkiye's differences from the West by making more frequent references to the glorious past of the country, collective memory of the Ottoman legacy, religious identity, and strong ties with the Islamic civilization. Taking all these into consideration, this study investigates AKP's increased emphasis on civilizational identity by utilizing a two-step methodological approach that combines textual analysis and critical discourse analysis applied to President Erdoğan's speeches. The time frame of the research covers the period between the June 2016 and May 2023 general elections. In conclusion, the study argues that AKP instrumentalizes civilizational discourse in its quest for legitimizing illiberal policies that attract criticism.