50th anniversary of Turkish migration to Europe: from expatriates to immigrants
by Recep Korkut*

The 50th anniversary of Turkish migration, beginning with guest workers going to Germany, is cause for hot debate as well as celebration. Heated discussion of migration issues and the success stories of Turkish immigrants go hand-in-hand at conferences, at events held by NGOs and in the media.

The Turks who migrated to Germany 50 years ago were not called “immigrants.” According to the Germans they were “guests” and according to those at home in Turkey they were “expatriates.” They were not actually redefined as immigrants until the recent debates surrounding the anniversary. In the course of discussions of the emerging problems of immigrants those original migrants changed to from “expatriate citizens living abroad” to “immigrants.”

Fifty years ago, the biggest problem for Turks living in Germany was housing, because their employers generally provided them with overcrowded apartments, and that overcrowding caused a host of other issues. Today the housing problems of Turkish immigrants are almost solved, but now they face a more serious problem: integration. A succession of European leaders including Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel and David Cameron have admitted that integration in Europe has failed.

Actually what has failed is not integration but the idea that “integration” can only mean assimilation. The biggest problem for integration has been that immigrants were held to be the only party to take the responsibility of integration. This attitude seriously hindered immigrants from mingling with the local citizens. Because immigrants were considered only temporary guests and held solely responsible for their own integration with society, immigrant employees were treated as marginal or as a separate category existing in the divided economic market. Immigrants’ values were seen as an obstacle hindering them from becoming integrated with society. Immigrant laws were used as weapons, and the concept of citizenship was held over their heads like a civil religion. Consequently, a parallel immigrant society that came into existence was often in contradiction with mainstream society.

It is not surprising that immigrants would form parallel societies within European societies, which were inclined to embrace some and exclude others. Multiculturalism, which is said to have failed, could have been an opportunity for Europe, but multiculturalism had unexpected results because people approached it with the expectation that the immigrants would leave their countries one day.

Two other issues that arise when discussing immigrants in Europe are paranoia about terrorism and the recent economic crisis. These issues cloud the facts about immigrants. The meaningless fear that immigration amounts to an invasion of foreigners causes big problems. But statistics prove that the opposite is true. The number of Turkish immigrants is lower now than it was 27 years ago, and the number of Turks applying to emigrate as refugees is one-sixth the number in the mid-1990s. In 2009, the number of Turks who migrated to Germany was lower than the number who returned to Turkey. Turkey is no longer a source country of migrants; instead it is a destination for immigrants. Turkey now receives immigrants from all over the world, as does Europe. These days many are asking if a counter-migration movement has begun. Europe is seen as having nothing to offer immigrants, and many Europeans have even begun migrating to Turkey to find jobs; for example, Greeks who want to migrate to Turkey due to the economic crisis in Greece.

Worker migration replaced by the brain drain

In the past 50 years the problems facing immigrants have changed. For instance, the problem of conflicting identity has become prevalent. The perception of immigrants as guests has changed. But the native populations were late in accepting the fact that the immigrants were not temporary but permanent residents in their countries. Turkish immigrants who once lived in passive and parallel groups are becoming active and joint members of society. Many Turkish politicians, activists, businessmen and athletes are active in Europe. Turkish immigrants have a great impact on Germany’s political, business and social life.

The number of Turkish immigrants is decreasing, and their qualifications have changed. The guest workers of 50 years ago have now become entrepreneurs. Although the proportion of immigrants from Turkey to other European countries has substantially decreased, migration continues. But today’s migration is different from that of 50 years ago. Today the qualifications of immigrants are different, they do not look like the workers that migrated in the past. Today they migrate to Europe for educational or occupational purposes. Turkish men traveling to Europe with wooden suitcases have been replaced by skilled young people who speak multiple languages and master’s degree students with laptops in their hands.

Of course, the issue of human mobility that goes hand-in-hand with globalization does not merely signify an increase in the number of tourists and business travelers. What makes human mobility an important issue is the changing global nature of migration. Just as Turkey, which was once a source of emigrants, has now become a target country, the brain drain will continue to replace labor migration in the future.

Beware of anti-immigration movements

Problems regarding integration are generally perceptional issues. The perception that Turks will not be accepted whatever they do hinders integration. Another serious concern is the ever-growing racism in European countries. This problem first appeared as a protest by a small group, and as cultural or mass chauvinism. But now it has spread to the streets and its growth is causing problems. The migration problem in Europe should actually be considered a problem of anti-migration populism. European countries are prone to blaming immigrant groups for economic and social failures. Immigrants are becoming the scapegoats for ungrounded and pessimistic concerns regarding the future of the continent.

European countries never really accepted their status as immigrant countries, which has caused many problems. All of us need to protect ourselves from biases stemming from fears, concerns and feelings of insecurity, and focus on the changing nature of migration and possible problems that we may encounter in the future, rather than pathetic stories of past migration. We do not have much time.

*Recep Korkut is a social worker with the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Migrants (SGDD) and a journalist who writes on minority, migration and refugee issues. recepk85@gmail.com