Ressentiment, Victimhood, and Revanchism

Abstract

Introduction: This article examines the emotional foundations of Recep Tayyip Erdo & gbreve;an's populism through social and political psychology, focusing on ressentiment as a collective emotion that transforms historical humiliation into moralized pride and political mobilization. Method: Using critical discourse analysis of Erdo & gbreve;an's speeches between 2012 and 2018, including the National Culture Forum (3 March 2017) and Civilizational Forum (21 October 2017), the study analyzes texts emphasizing civilization, culture, and faith through interpretative-phenomenological coding informed by theories of collective emotions, moral regulation, and identity repair. Results: Findings show that ressentiment functions as both an emotional mechanism and a political resource, converting collective victimhood into moral triumph and legitimizing authoritarian consolidation and a neo-Ottomanist revival, demonstrating how Erdo & gbreve;an's populism operates as an affective regime binding followers through shared emotions of loss, pride, and revenge.