Erdogan’s Rhetoric on the Reconversion of Hagia Sophia: An Analysis and a Comparison with the Milliyetci mukaddesatcılar Circles of the 1950s

This article examines the rhetoric employed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in addressing the reconversion of Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) into a mosque, situating it within broader political and historical contexts. While much scholarly attention has been given to the AKP’s ideological transformation and its alliance with the nationalist MHP, little has been written on how this shift is reflected in Erdoğan’s discourse. Through qualitative content analysis, this study compares Erdoğan’s speeches — particularly his 10 July 2020 Address to the Nation — with the nationalist rhetoric of the early multiparty period, focus-ing on the milliyetçi-mukaddesatçı intellectuals of the 1950s. By tracing references, figures, and ideological themes in Erdoğan’s discourse, the article explores the extent to which his rhetoric aligns with past nationalist traditions, reinforcing the AKP’s repositioning within the right-wing conservative electorate. The findings suggest that Erdoğan’s framing of the Ayasofya issue is not merely a product of contemporary political contingencies but is deeply rooted in long-standing nationalist narratives.