His groundbreaking research, co-authored by İbrahim Ekrem Sarı, Aybüke Ceren Çolakoğlu, and Ceren Orhan, is a remarkable example of the academic excellence nurtured under the FEJUST Jean Monnet Chair on Feminist Epistemic Justice in the EU and Beyond. The article critically examines the rise of femonationalism within far-right politics across Europe and Turkey, highlighting how nationalist movements use feminist and queer rhetoric to advance anti-migration agendas. By investigating these discourses through case studies from EU member states and Turkey, the article connects identity politics, far-right populism, and feminist critique.
The research process was enriched through the theoretical frameworks and collaborative environment fostered by FEJUST. Both Aybüke Ceren Çolakoğlu and İbrahim Ekrem Sarı served as research assistants for FEJUST, while Ceren Orhan was actively involved as a student participant in FEJUST activities. This collaboration underscores FEJUST’s commitment to inclusive academic growth, mentoring early-career academics, and fostering excellence among young researchers aspiring to shape future policy and civil society practices.
The article explores how far-right political movements across Europe and Turkey strategically employ femonationalism and homonationalism to legitimize anti-migration policies. It focuses on the appropriation of feminist and queer discourses by nationalist parties to portray migrants, particularly Muslim men, as threats to women’s rights and secular values. Through a detailed analysis of political rhetoric and media narratives in countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and Turkey, the authors reveal how these tactics reinforce exclusionary agendas under the guise of protecting gender equality.
A significant part of the study delves into the practices of prominent far-right female leaders, including Giorgia Meloni in Italy, Alice Weidel in Germany, and Marine Le Pen in France. These leaders employ feminist language to frame their policies as champions of women’s rights while simultaneously advancing exclusionary nationalist agendas. The authors argue that this rhetoric exploits feminist ideals to obscure the patriarchal and xenophobic underpinnings of their policies. By positioning Muslim migrants as inherently patriarchal and oppressive, far-right leaders deflect attention from systemic gender inequalities within their own societies.
In the Turkish context, the authors examine how similar strategies are adopted by far-right actors, such as those in the Zafer Party, to foster anti-migrant sentiment. This demonstrates the global resonance of femonationalism as a tool for shaping public opinion and policy. The research highlights how the co-optation of feminist ideals results in epistemic injustices. The voices and experiences of migrant women are either erased or selectively used to reinforce exclusionary narratives, while feminist discourses that challenge structural inequalities are silenced or distorted. These practices undermine genuine feminist movements and exacerbate the marginalization of women and other vulnerable groups.
The study concludes by emphasizing the urgent need to reclaim feminist narratives and resist their manipulation by nationalist movements. By examining how feminist ideals are used to justify anti-migration policies, the article sheds light on the broader implications of these strategies for policymaking, gender equality, and social justice.
This article directly aligns with FEJUST's mission to challenge androcentric and Eurocentric structures within knowledge production and policymaking. By analyzing the intersection of gender, migration, and far-right politics, the study highlights how feminist ideals are manipulated in ways that perpetuate epistemic injustice. The research calls for reclaiming feminist narratives to resist these co-optations and advocate for inclusive, equitable policies that address structural inequalities.
The publication exemplifies FEJUST’s role in fostering critical scholarship that bridges academic inquiry with pressing societal issues. It demonstrates the impact of FEJUST’s theoretical and practical frameworks in enabling young researchers to produce work that is not only academically rigorous but also socially transformative.
Moreover, the professional growth of the authors further underscores FEJUST’s commitment to developing the next generation of academics, policymakers, and civil society leaders. İbrahim Ekrem Sarı’s internship at UN Women and Aybüke Ceren Çolakoğlu’s aspirations to become an EU expert in Turkey reflect FEJUST’s success in nurturing talent that contributes meaningfully to global challenges.
This article represents a vital contribution to feminist epistemic justice, illustrating the importance of resisting epistemic erasure and promoting inclusive discourse in both academia and politics.
TR
