Mystical Family Formation: The Sacred and Metaphysical Reconfiguration of the Family in Populist Discourse

Muhammed Ramazan Demirci

Article Details

Mystical Family Formation: The Sacred and Metaphysical Reconfiguration of the Family in Populist Discourse

Authors:

Muhammed Ramazan Demirci

Publisher:

Afyon Kocatepe University

Main Topics:

Aile Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.27 Issue Aile Özel Sayısı, pp.141-159

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348048

pISSN:

1302-1265

Keywords:

Abstract:

 In recent years, populist leaders have increasingly placed the concept of the family at the center of their political discourse, reconstructing it not merely as a social institution but as a sacred and metaphysical political apparatus. This article introduces the original concept of the Mystical Family Formation as a theoretical contribution aimed at understanding this transformation on a conceptual level. The proposed concept seeks to explain how populist leaders reproduce traditional family ideologies through religious and mythological imagery, envisioning society around the construct of a sacred family. The theoretical framework of the study is built upon Ernesto Laclaus theory of populism, Roland Barthess methodology of myth analysis, and Max Webers notion of charismatic authority. Discourse analysis is employed as the methodological approach, and the cases of Narendra Modi in India, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil are examined comparatively. The analysis identifies distinct traces of the Mystical Family Formation within the discourse of these leaders, revealing how the emphasis on family transforms into a metaphysical conception of the people and how the leaders position themselves as guardians of this sacred family. In this context, the article discusses the explanatory potential of the Mystical Family Formation for studies in populism, gender, and political discourse, offering a conceptually rich analytical framework that lays theoretical groundwork for future research.

 In recent years, populist leaders have increasingly placed the concept of the family at the center of their political discourse, reconstructing it not merely as a social institution but as a sacred and metaphysical political apparatus. This article introduces the original concept of the Mystical Family Formation as a theoretical contribution aimed at understanding this transformation on a conceptual level. The proposed concept seeks to explain how populist leaders reproduce traditional family ideologies through religious and mythological imagery, envisioning society around the construct of a sacred family. The theoretical framework of the study is built upon Ernesto Laclaus theory of populism, Roland Barthess methodology of myth analysis, and Max Webers notion of charismatic authority. Discourse analysis is employed as the methodological approach, and the cases of Narendra Modi in India, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil are examined comparatively. The analysis identifies distinct traces of the Mystical Family Formation within the discourse of these leaders, revealing how the emphasis on family transforms into a metaphysical conception of the people and how the leaders position themselves as guardians of this sacred family. In this context, the article discusses the explanatory potential of the Mystical Family Formation for studies in populism, gender, and political discourse, offering a conceptually rich analytical framework that lays theoretical groundwork for future research.

 In recent years, populist leaders have increasingly placed the concept of the family at the center of their political discourse, reconstructing it not merely as a social institution but as a sacred and metaphysical political apparatus. This article introduces the original concept of the Mystical Family Formation as a theoretical contribution aimed at understanding this transformation on a conceptual level. The proposed concept seeks to explain how populist leaders reproduce traditional family ideologies through religious and mythological imagery, envisioning society around the construct of a sacred family. The theoretical framework of the study is built upon Ernesto Laclaus theory of populism, Roland Barthess methodology of myth analysis, and Max Webers notion of charismatic authority. Discourse analysis is employed as the methodological approach, and the cases of Narendra Modi in India, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil are examined comparatively. The analysis identifies distinct traces of the Mystical Family Formation within the discourse of these leaders, revealing how the emphasis on family transforms into a metaphysical conception of the people and how the leaders position themselves as guardians of this sacred family. In this context, the article discusses the explanatory potential of the Mystical Family Formation for studies in populism, gender, and political discourse, offering a conceptually rich analytical framework that lays theoretical groundwork for future research.

 Son yıllarda popülist liderlerin aile kavramını siyasal söylemlerinin merkezine yerleştirerek, onu yalnızca toplumsal bir kurum olarak değil, aynı zamanda kutsallık atfedilen metafizik bir siyasal aygıt olarak yeniden inşa ettikleri gözlemlenmektedir. Bu makale, söz konusu dönüşümü kavramsal düzeyde anlamlandırmak amacıyla literatüre özgün bir katkı olarak Mistik Aile Formasyonu kavramını önermektedir. Bu kavram, popülist liderlerin geleneksel aile ideolojisini dini ve mitolojik imgeler aracılığıyla yeniden üretip, toplumu kutsal bir aile kurgusu etrafında tahayyül etmelerini açıklamayı amaçlamaktadır. Çalışmanın kuramsal çerçevesi Ernesto Laclaunun popülizm kuramı, Roland Barthesın mit çözümleme yöntemi ve Max Weberin karizmatik otorite anlayışıyla yapılandırılmıştır. Yöntem olarak söylem analizi benimsenmiş ve Hindistandan Narendra Modi, Macaristandan Viktor Orbán ile Brezilyadan Jair Bolsonaro örnek olayları karşılaştırmalı olarak incelenmiştir. Analizler sonucunda bu liderlerin söylemlerinde Mistik Aile Formasyonunun özgül izlerine rastlanmış; aile vurgusunun metafizik bir halk tanımına evrildiği ve liderlerin kendilerini bu kutsal ailenin muhafızı konumuna yerleştirdikleri ortaya konmuştur. Bu bağlamda makale, Mistik Aile Formasyonu kavramının popülizm, toplumsal cinsiyet ve siyasal söylem çalışmaları açısından açıklayıcı potansiyelini tartışmakta ve kavramsal derinliği olan yeni bir analitik çerçeve sunarak gelecekteki araştırmalara kuramsal bir zemin hazırlamaktadır.

Article Details

Mystical Family Formation: The Sacred and Metaphysical Reconfiguration of the Family in Populist Discourse

Authors:

Muhammed Ramazan Demirci

Publisher:

Afyon Kocatepe University

Main Topics:

Aile Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.27 Issue Aile Özel Sayısı, pp.141-159

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348048

pISSN:

1302-1265

Populism

Gender

Family Ideology

Charismatic Leadership

Mystical Family FormationPopülizm

Toplumsal Cinsiyet

Aile İdeolojisi

Karizmatik Liderlik

Mistik Aile Formasyonu

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Muhammed Ramazan Demirci

Publisher: Afyon Kocatepe University

Main Topics: Aile Sosyolojisi

Journal: Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.27 Issue Aile Özel Sayısı, pp.141-159

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 10/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001348048

pISSN: 1302-1265

Issues

Authors:

Muhammed Ramazan Demirci

Publisher:

Afyon Kocatepe University

Main Topics:

Aile Sosyolojisi

Journal:

Afyon Kocatepe Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.27 Issue Aile Özel Sayısı, pp.141-159

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348048

pISSN:

1302-1265