Turkey's Nationalist Action Party

This book offers an in-depth analysis of the nationalist ideas and practices of Turkeys Nationalist Action Party (MHP) from its founder, Alparslan Trke, to its current leader, Devlet Baheli. Applying both diachronic and synchronic approaches to the multidimensionality of nationalism, the book analyzes how Trke and Baheli emphasized or de-emphasized ethnic, cultural, and civic components of the partys nationalism in response to the threats they perceived in specific historical contexts. The author draws on party documents, speeches, and interviews to examine how recurring themes in Trkes and Bahelis nationalist ideas and practices have evolved over half a century, between 1965 and 2015. In this way, the book provides fresh insights into the evolution and complexity of the MHPs nationalism, thereby contributing to the theoretical understanding of nationalisms multidimensionality. This book also highlights the political significance of the MHP in contemporary Turkey, where nationalist and right-wing politics have become increasingly influential in recent years. Spanning a number of disciplines, including political science, international relations, and Turkish studies, this book will be of interest to a broad range of scholars and students, as well as those seeking insights into the broader implications of nationalism.