Towards the Construction of a Neo-Ottomanist Myth: The ‘Legend’ of 15 July and National Narcissism

The coup attempt of 15 July 2016 was another turning point in the emotional climate of Turkey, characterized by the victimhood claim of the Islamic conservatives, from which the AKP arose. It transformed a historical narrative, largely dominated by defeat and suppression, into a completely different narrative of the present, one characterized by triumph and self-worship. This chapter focuses on the AKP’s efforts to create a national myth through the 15 July incident, and discusses whether these efforts have been successful drawing on the notions of ‘national narcissism’ and ‘collective narcissism’.