The transformation of nationalism in Türkiye: a comparative analysis of the nationalism perceptions of the MHP and the İyi Party

This thesis examines the perspectives of the MHP and the İyi Party, which embrace nationalism as one of their fundamental principles, and the transformation of these perspectives throughout history. The main objective of the thesis is to comparatively analyze the transformation of nationalism in Turkey through two political parties. A mixed method was employed in the thesis. The quantitative part of the method involved comprehensive document analysis, while the qualitative part employed semi-structured interviews. The main axis of the document analysis consisted of party statutes, party programs, and election manifestos. Articles, election results, biographies, and other institutional documents were used as secondary data sources. Interviews were conducted with individuals currently serving or previously serving in senior management positions within the MHP and İyi Party organizations, as well as faculty members specialized in Turkish nationalism. The findings were coded using the MAXQDA 24 program and analyzed using content analysis. The thesis is limited in time to the period between 1969 and 2023, while the party context is limited to the MHP and İyi Party. The first part of the thesis outlines the purpose, scope, method, and hypotheses. The conceptual framework is then established. The historical processes of the MHP and İyi Party are then examined, examining the parties' general political understanding within their institutional dimensions. Finally, a comparative analysis of the two political parties' nationalist views in different contexts is conducted. Thus, the similarities and differences between the two political parties are evaluated comparatively. In this context, the thesis aims to explain the transformation of nationalism at the political party level in Turkey and to contribute to the current nationalism literature.