Manchester University Press
2 ‘You are our ambassadors’
-
Ayca Arkilic
Abstract
This chapter considers Turkey’s engagement with Turkish diaspora organisations in France, through a focus on the activities of various state institutions to reach out to the diaspora. The chapter highlights that Turkey’s engagement with the Turkish community in France follows deliberate policy goals, such as increasing the lobbying potential of French Turks in favour of the Turkish government, canvassing expatriate votes and strengthening national legitimacy by evoking a sense of loyalty among French Turks. By using anecdotes and narratives of diaspora organisation representatives, official documents and reports and news sources, the chapter argues that Turkey has favoured certain diaspora groups (conservative-nationalist and Sunni-Islamic) over others (secular, Kurdish, Alevi and Gülenist). Turkey’s new diaspora policies have bolstered conservative diaspora leaders’ self-confidence and collective identity, and enhanced their organisational capacity against the rising backdrop of Islamophobia in France. The chapter first presents the history of Turkish diaspora associations in France and examines their political mobilisation in the pre-2003 era. It then shifts the analysis to Turkey’s diaspora engagement with French Turks since 2003. Through an examination of increased official correspondence with Turkish immigrant organisations, pro-Turkish diaspora rallies and various state institutions’ activities in the transnational space, it illustrates how such engagement has prompted diaspora diplomacy.
Abstract
This chapter considers Turkey’s engagement with Turkish diaspora organisations in France, through a focus on the activities of various state institutions to reach out to the diaspora. The chapter highlights that Turkey’s engagement with the Turkish community in France follows deliberate policy goals, such as increasing the lobbying potential of French Turks in favour of the Turkish government, canvassing expatriate votes and strengthening national legitimacy by evoking a sense of loyalty among French Turks. By using anecdotes and narratives of diaspora organisation representatives, official documents and reports and news sources, the chapter argues that Turkey has favoured certain diaspora groups (conservative-nationalist and Sunni-Islamic) over others (secular, Kurdish, Alevi and Gülenist). Turkey’s new diaspora policies have bolstered conservative diaspora leaders’ self-confidence and collective identity, and enhanced their organisational capacity against the rising backdrop of Islamophobia in France. The chapter first presents the history of Turkish diaspora associations in France and examines their political mobilisation in the pre-2003 era. It then shifts the analysis to Turkey’s diaspora engagement with French Turks since 2003. Through an examination of increased official correspondence with Turkish immigrant organisations, pro-Turkish diaspora rallies and various state institutions’ activities in the transnational space, it illustrates how such engagement has prompted diaspora diplomacy.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Figure and tables vi
- Acknowledgements vii
- Abbreviations x
- Chronology of key events xiii
- Introduction 1
- 1 ‘From guest workers to brothers and sisters’ 29
- 2 ‘You are our ambassadors’ 62
- 3 ‘The creation of a new Turkey will start in Germany’ 90
- 4 ‘Selective engagement’ 120
- 5 ‘Let us learn from them’ 143
- 6 ‘Islam does not belong to Germany’ 168
- Conclusion 193
- Select bibliography 209
- Index 219
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Figure and tables vi
- Acknowledgements vii
- Abbreviations x
- Chronology of key events xiii
- Introduction 1
- 1 ‘From guest workers to brothers and sisters’ 29
- 2 ‘You are our ambassadors’ 62
- 3 ‘The creation of a new Turkey will start in Germany’ 90
- 4 ‘Selective engagement’ 120
- 5 ‘Let us learn from them’ 143
- 6 ‘Islam does not belong to Germany’ 168
- Conclusion 193
- Select bibliography 209
- Index 219
