Empowering a fragmented diaspora: Turkish immigrant organizations' perceptions of and responses to Turkey's diaspora engagement policy. Issue 5 (20th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arkilic, Ayca
• Is Part Of: Mediterranean politics. Volume 27:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 588
• Page End: 613
• Publication Date: 2022-10-20
• Subjects: Diaspora engagement -- empowerment -- immigrant organizations -- Turkey -- MENA -- Europe; Mediterranean Region -- Politics and government -- 1945- -- Periodicals; 320.91822
• DOI: 10.1080/13629395.2020.1822058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1362-9395

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The existing literature on state-diaspora relations, primarily in the MENA, has mostly focused on how and why home states engage their diasporas, rather than with what consequences. This article investigates how different groups within the diaspora community are affected by the homeland's multi-tiered diaspora engagement policy. I argue that sending states influence select immigrant organizations' mobilization by empowering them in two key ways: They instil self-confidence and collective identity in organization leaders and provide them with capacity-development and know-how support. Yet such differential treatment may become a source of suspicion in host states and cause resentment among the disregarded diaspora groups. The findings draw from extensive fieldwork conducted in France, Germany, and Turkey between 2013 and 2019 and original data derived from interviews, official documents, and news sources.