Türkiye and the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian War: Civilizational Identity and the “Hero” Character

Abstract

Türkiye’s active role during the Russo-Ukrainian War has been complemented with a discourse that emphasizes the country’s diplomatic achievements. Through narrative analysis, this study analyzes the ways in which Turkish policymakers have crafted a hero character for Türkiye. It demonstrates that during the war, Türkiye’s macro-discourse of civilizational identity (shaped by the Ottoman-Islamic culture) has taken on a narrative form, casting Türkiye in the character of a “hero,” with a stress placed on the country’s resolve to bring stability and peace to the region and to prevent the global food crisis. Türkiye’s construction of its “hero” character coincided with strong criticism placed against the Western powers for their mismanagement of the war.