A profoundly discriminatory entity? A discourse mythological analysis of the AKP’s discourse on the EU

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article focuses on an analysis of the recent discourse of Turkey’s governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) on the European Union, in the context of increasing de-Europeanisation in Turkey and the increasing lack of credibility of Turkey’s accession prospects. The analysis is informed by the Discourse Mythological Approach, which combines the analysis of political myth with Critical Discourse Analysis (in this case, the Discourse Historical Approach). On this basis the paper focuses on the interaction of AKP discourse with the EU’s own political mythology, most notably its (self) portrayal as an entity founded on so-called ‘European’ values such as democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Recent AKP discourse, however, attempts to reverse this depiction of a tolerant, liberal and democratic EU by arguing that the EU is unable to escape from the intolerance and xenophobia of the European past. In contrast, Turkey itself is depicted as the true bearer of ‘European’ values.