Kaya, Ayhan2026-04-042026-04-0420262673-8627https://doi.org/10.1024/2673-8627/a000098https://hdl.handle.net/11411/10494Introduction: 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.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessRessentimentVictimhoodIslamismLaicismNeo-OttomanismRevanchismArticle2-s2.0-10502966896110.1024/2673-8627/a00009810.1024/2673-8627/a000098Q3Q3WOS:001686067300001