The Perception of Kemalism and Mustafa Kemal’s (Atatürk) Legacy in the Arab World: The Case of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

While Kemalism (Atatürkism) and Mustafa Kemal’s (Atatürk) legacy tend to be confined to the Republic of Turkey, they have a transnational impact and influence perceptions abroad. Some literature investigates this topic in various parts of the world. Yet, little attention is focused on the Middle East, particularly the Arab world and more so in the realm of Turkish–Arab relations and communication. The article explores how Kemalism and Atatürk’s legacy are perceived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s contemporary public discourse through content analysis methods from canonical and discourse approaches of published texts in Alriyadh . The article begins by highlighting the historiography of Kemalism and Atatürk’s legacy in Turkey and beyond, particularly in the Arab world. Then, it sheds light on the historicity and contemporary nature of the Turkish–Saudi relationship, and later explains the methodology, findings, and analysis. The findings show that Kemalism and Atatürk’s legacy are perceived mainly in association with contemporary Turkish politics, particularly regarding Recep Erdoğan, and less with history and culture. While the perception of Kemalism is somewhat unclear, Atatürk’s legacy is perceived critically, neutrally, and positively, challenging the common negative perception in Arab literature.