Erdoğanist Islamist Diaspora’s Competitive Victimhood, Ressentiment and Intergroup Emotions

Chapter 8 focuses on Erdoğanist Islamists in Melbourne, Australia, highlighting the role of ressentiment and competitive victimhood in shaping their perspectives. The chapter begins by tracing the rise of Erdoğan and the AKP, exploring their transformation into an authoritarian Islamist party following their 2002 election victory. It then examines how these dynamics have influenced the political and social outlooks of Erdoğanists in Melbourne. Through extensive interviews, the chapter reveals that despite their political dominance in Turkey and within the Australian diaspora, Erdoğanists continue to exhibit profound fears and anxieties rooted in a competitive victimhood narrative and their ressentiment. They persistently recall their past oppression by secularists and perceive ongoing threats from Kemalists and Western powers, whom they believe are conspiring to undermine Turkey and its religion. This sense of victimhood fuels a pervasive ressentiment, as Erdoğanists cling to their grievances and view themselves as unjustly targeted. The chapter also highlights the strained relationships Erdoğanists maintain with other Turkish diaspora groups in Melbourne. These tensions are exacerbated by their fears and suspicions that these groups may be collaborating with foreign entities to destabilize Turkey. The analysis underscores how the interplay of ressentiment and competitive victimhood continues to shape Erdoğanist attitudes and their interactions within the diaspora.