The Use of Medieval in Political Discourse: Genghis Khan Example

Year 2024, Issue: 62, 439 - 452, 30.12.2024

Gaye Yavuzcan

https://doi.org/10.35237/suitder.1516953

Abstract

No historical figure than Genghis Khan hailed both for brutality and being tolerant. Not only his name but his laws transcended the ages and provided legitimacy to different political structures. In addition to the military activities with which his name is associated, Genghis Khan also stands out with his characteristics such as his lawmaking, his tolerance towards religious and cultural diversity, and his ability to provide a basis for political legitimation that transcends the ages. This also diversified the use of Genghis figure as an object of political discourse.
References to history are extremely common in political discourse. Genghis Khan is not the only medieval figure used by individuals and groups who wish to convey their political agenda to their target audiences and have them adopt it. In fact, it is not unique to Genghis Khan that conflicting discourses make him an instrument of contradictory political tendencies. However, the versatility of his historical personality allows increasing this diversity in the case of Genghis Khan, making him a productive example for evaluating his use in political discourse. In this study, the use of the Medievalism in political discourse will be evaluated based on the example of Genghis Khan. The source group used to carry out this analysis are examples selected from the 19th-20th century American press.

Keywords

Genghis Khan, Medieval, Medievalism, political discourse

Siyasal Söylemde Orta Çağ’ın Kullanımı: Cengiz Kağan Örneği

Abstract

Tarihin Cengiz Kağan kadar hem vahşeti hem de hoşgörüsüyle andığı bir lider daha yoktur. O, sadece eylemlerinin tarihsel anlatısıyla değil, etkileriyle de yaşadığı çağı aştı. Cengiz Kağan uzun ömrüne acımasız katliamlardan şanlı zaferlere pek çok askerî harekâtı sığdırırken kanun koyuculuğu, dinsel ve kültürel farklılıklara toleransı, siyasal meşruiyet zemini inşası gibi özellikleriyle de öne çıktı. Cengizli askerî gücünü teşkilatlandırarak bambaşka coğrafyalarda meskûn, bambaşka kültür dairesi mensuplarının üzerine sevk ederken, bağlılarının köken ve kültürlerinden bağımsız bir ulus inşa etti. Eylemleriyle tarihin bir parçası olduğu kadar yapıcısıydı. Ölümünün üzerinden asırlar geçtikten sonra siyasi söylemin bir nesnesi haline geldi.
Siyasal söylemin tarihe atıfları yaygındır. Cengiz Kağan, siyasi ajandalarını hedef kitlelerine aktarıp benimsetmek arzusundaki kişi ve grupların başvurduğu tek Orta Çağ figürü değildir. Çelişkili söylemlerin onu birbirine tezat siyasal eğilimlerin aracı haline getirmesi de Cengiz Kağan’a has değildir. Bununla beraber siyasal söylemde yaygın kullanımını onu verimli bir örnek kılar. Bu çalışmada Cengiz Kağan örneğinden yola çıkarak siyasal söylemde Orta Çağ’ın kullanımı değerlendirilecektir. Bunun için başvurulan kaynak grubu 19.-20. yüzyıl Amerikan basınından seçilen örneklerdir.

Keywords

Cengiz Kağan, Orta Çağ, Orta Çağcılık, siyasal söylem, Doğu-Batı

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