Friday, March 14, 2014
Embassy (Omni Shoreham)
How do the reproduction and reestablishment of religion, and changing domestic politics in Turkey affect Turkish migrant organizations in France and Germany? Have host states been successful in reaching out to their Muslim communities, and crafting ideal state-mosque relations? How are Turkey’s and host states’ policies toward the Turkish Muslim diaspora perceived by Turkish Muslims, and how do such policies shape these communities’ attitudes and behaviors? To what extent does the host country context spur or deter Turkish migrants’ attachment to the country of origin? Focusing on Turkey’s diaspora politics toward Turkish Muslims is important for the integration and identification of Turkish migrants in Europe due to Turkey’s increasing role in the region, and internal problems European states encounter in dealing with their Muslim communities. I argue that the rise of political Islam, and Turkey’s stabilizing political and economic landscape have led the Turkish state to pursue an assertive diaspora politics that promotes increasing attachment to the homeland, and less cooperation with the host states. This policy has significant implications for Turkish migrant organizations’ rapprochement, empowerment, and support for integration. However, the national context of the host country conditions the means and extent of migrants’ attachment to their homeland. Accordingly, Turks living in Germany are more vulnerable to the homeland’s outreach policies because push factors are more visible in Germany.
