Reading The Myth of Kemal Derviş Yücel Demirer and Özgür Orhangazi This paper discusses the unique appearance of Kemal Dervifl in Turkey’s political scene in the new century and examines the social, political and economic implications of that appearance. After a sketch of Kemal Dervifl’s return to Turkey as a minister in charge of economic affairs, the parallel myth-making process of this “insider with the outside knowledge” is examined in the article. Special attention is given to the ways in which he was presented to the general public as a savior, his embodiment of the IMF-directed neo-liberal policies, and the nature of his agency.