ABSTRACT
This paper is based on our field research in Turkey in 2014–15, during which we came across several clusters of young Turkish right-wing and secular nationalists, mostly aligned with the Nationalist Movement Party (Milliyetçi Hareket Partisi, MHP; herein NMP). Born around 1990, these young men and women joined the Gezi protests of 2013 by actively clashing with police forces and producing their own political satire and propaganda. Very active in the social media platforms, they continue to be part of the general opposition against AKP government. Traditionally xenophobic and shying away from cosmopolitan, inter-ethnic movements, these young nationalists' enthusiastic participation in street mobilization produces a double puzzle. First, there is the Turkish exceptionalism in the face of a movement claimed to be the most globally connected in Turkey. Secondly, the nationalist tradition in Turkey is traditionally positioned with the state against internationalist and leftist agencies. Through a field research based on participant observation, in-depth interviews and focus groups, we researched their repositioning vis-à-vis the party, the state and the world during June 2013. Through a reflexive interpretation of our fieldwork experience, we also developed some themes for researching far-right movements.
