Transnational Hereditary Competitive Victimhood, Ressentiment and Victim-Turned-Oppressors

This final chapter synthesizes the data generated from the case studies, highlighting the role of competitive victimhood within the Turkey-originated diaspora in Melbourne, Australia. The book has revealed that the diaspora mirrors the ethnic, religious and political divisions of the Turkish Republic, with the insecurities and collective victimhood experienced in Turkey being reflected in various ways within the diaspora. Each subgroup within the diaspora maintains a collective sense of victimhood, whether based on reality or perception. For Erdoğanists and Kemalists, this victimhood is strongly competitive, leading to a heightened sense of division and a lack of empathy towards the sufferings of other groups. In contrast, Armenians, Kurds and Alevis display a more inclusive approach to their victimhood, while other groups may exhibit varying degrees of ambivalence or weak competitiveness. Particularly noteworthy is how the ressentiment of AKP supporters, or Erdoğanists, shapes their perspective. Despite their political dominance in Turkey and within the Australian diaspora, Erdoğanists exhibit a persistent sense of victimhood rooted in their experiences of past oppression and ongoing fears of external threats. This ressentiment fuels their competitive victimhood, reinforcing a strong boundary between themselves and perceived adversaries, including Kemalists, Kurds, Alevis, Armenians and Gülenists.