Loving Sovereignty: Political Mysticism, Şeyh Galib, and Giorgio Agamben
Comparative Literature Studies February 16, 2021 A. Camoglu
The metaphor of the beloved sovereign in Şeyh Galib's poetry reveals how Ottoman imperial sovereignty was reinforced through mysticism. By portraying the sultan as a beloved, submission becomes an act of love rather than coercion, neutralizing political agency. Drawing on Giorgio Agamben's concept of "potentiality," the article argues that love can bind subjects to sovereignty as an ontological condition, contrary to Agamben's view that love enables resistance. Galib's poetry warns that sovereignty can exploit love and vulnerability to consolidate power.