Anti-Imperialism in Turkish Right-Wing Politics between 1960-1980: Historical Experiences, Ideological Beliefs and Geopolitical Realities

Abstract

Türkiye witnessed intensified debates on imperialism between 1960 and 1980, influencing right-wing rhetoric and shaping the political agenda. This article examines the main points of the anti-imperialist discourse of Türkiye's right-wing parties, focusing on their perceptions of Russian and U.S. imperialism. Detailed research on speeches and writings of party representatives, supported by parliamentary minutes, party programs, and newspapers and magazines, reveals that right-wing politics developed a comprehensive opposition to imperialism based on historical experiences, national interests, and the need for domestic and national development. Emphasis on resisting both Soviet and American imperialism distinguished the right from the left. Parties' positions in the government-opposition pendulum and their ideological variations affected how criticism was articulated; the MHP and MSP developed a more definite discourse than liberal actors.