Masculinity in Turkish right-wing politics: The case of AK Party

This thesis analyzes how hegemonic masculinity is produced in the Turkish right tradition and the AK Party, based on the "hegemonic masculinity" thesis developed by Connell based on the concepts of power. From the focus of critical masculinity, the events, struggles and policies in modern Turkish political life were categorized under three headings as material, symbolic and leader, and aimed to create a holistic discussion. Hegemonic masculinity is a socially constructed concept that can change depending on time, place and social structure, but reproduces masculinity under all circumstances. Depending on these conditions, the characteristics of hegemonic masculinity have changed from time to time in Turkey. By including the Early Republic period in the scope of this thesis, it was aimed to show the continuity of the patriarchy despite the change in the hegemonic masculinity characteristics of the founding ideology in the right tradition in the later periods. Decision makers in the Turkish right-wing tradition have made significant contributions to the reproduction of masculinity, and these contributions have been transferred to the AK Party as a legacy of masculinity. It has been discussed how hegemonic masculinity is established and its contributions to the reinforcement of masculinity, through examples taken from Erdogan's official speeches.