The Role and influence of "Nationalist Action Party" in Turkish political life

Abstract

This thesis is an attempt to explain and explore the role and influence of Nationalist Action Party (МНР) in Turkish political life. This study examines the rise of МНР in recent years both as a political party and as a political movement. For this reason, MHP’s role and influence is evaluated in terms of its origins, history, strategies and ideologies. Fruthermore, the changing role and influence of the party is assesed within the context of changing historical conditions. In this period, a crises of dominant ideologies has influenced the rise of МНР and its ideology. Kemalism, which is deemed as the official ideology of Turkish state and society throughout the history of Republic, has been challenged by Islamist movements and Kurdish nationalism in 1990s. Furthermore, the New Right as the hegemonic ideology of 1980s has lost its appeal and employed an extreme nationalist discourse to a great extent in recent years. In the ideological climate of 1990s, which is strongly influenced by competing, intermixing and changing nationalisms, the МНР nationalism has become a rising and influential ideology by articulating the dominant ideologies. Within the framework of above argument, this study adresses the changing ideology and political strategies of the МНР.