1997- CLASS, ETHNICITY AND IDENTITY FORMATION: IMMIGRANTS FROM TURKEY IN LONDON (original) (raw)
Related papers
Ethnic identity in any sense (whether in racial, religious or national identity sense) is a construct that can be captured only in its formation process of re-definition, re-education and regeneration through which specific identities are reproduced, transformed and maintained. The re-definition of ethnicity is formed through the process of setting and re-setting the boundaries that results in the changes of identities, by means of which members of specific groups distinguish themselves from other groups. This process is most evident in a new setting area that is completely different from the home community or society, that is to say in the context of migration, especially international migration. This paper discusses the specific ethnographic example of immigrant experience in London, England. It deals specifically with the immigrants Alevi-Kurdish ethnic group of Turkish citizens to operationalize this process. It indicates that this process of constitution of boundaries and identities is a situational one that change in different contexts even during anindividuaìs lifetime. In different situations individuals will emphasize different identities. Ethnic identity is articulated especially in the international migration context. The absence of any feeling of belongingness to the host country amongst immigrants, or the existence of marginal or marginalized people, or the existence of ghettos or racism and in some cases xenophobia means the politics of belonging are not effective in forming integrated communities. This may be depend on the success of, to use Smith`s term (1994), territorial nationalism that may contain many ethnies in a territory.
The Identity construction of the Turkish Immıgrants in Germany
This paper focuses on identity formation of Turkish immigrants living in Germany.Before diving into the topic , I will try to draw theoretical and philosphical framework of concept of identity in social sciences.Then,I will explain the importance of migration for identity formation.At this point , I would like to note that the literature about identity is huge as it has always been important concept in social sciences.Because of this reason it was not possible for me to cover the whole literature.At the final chapter of this paper,I will point out the fact that there are different dispositions among Turkish immigrants and unlike popular stereotypical mis-representation of Turkish immigrants in western discourse , the big proportion of them have become politically, socially, economically and culturally integrated and active agents in their country of settlement.However there is also sociological literature about perceived discrimination experienced by Turkish people in Europe.This generally leads them to construct reactive ethnicity. It is also possible to see the reflection of this on urban physical setting as they tend to live in certain neighborhoods.
This study examines the identity problem for the workers that turned back to Turkey. Starting from 1960s, lots of workers migrated to European countries as a solution to the problem of unemployment in Turkey. The migrants brought their families with them and got accustomed to living abroad. However statistics prove that a group of migrants returned back to Turkey. Migrants had many problems after return. Turks in Turkey excluded them from the society, mainly because their dialect was different. Eventually, an identity problem emerged for the returned migrants and they experienced a confusion and ambiguity concerning their origin. Although, these migrants shared the same ethnic origin with people living in Turkey, they experienced difficulties in adapting to their national culture. It has been seen that the Turkish migrant identity, which refer to the identity of returned Turks who migrated to European Countries, is not exactly Turkish identity or European identity, but it carries features from both. This migrant identity is an ambivalent identity, constituted of some of factors; Turkish migrants feeling like belonging to nowhere, them having a desire to live in Europe, and them to keep having religious values and feelings different than both Turks in Turkey and people in host countries. Some of the migrants adapted themselves to other cultures, and their interest to their traditional cultures decreased. Consequently, the concept of nation carries a different meaning for the returned migrants. This study examines, why and how the returned migrants became the other in their own countries.
Migration, Integration and Multiculturalism
The public understanding of “the problem of integration” is explained on the ground of stereotyped culture(s) instead of social inequalities. Therefore, the belief that the root of the problem is cultural affects the direction of “integration policies”. On the contrary, “the immigrant problem” is primarily a problem of social exclusion. Social and residential segregation, discrimination, stigmatization and marginalization are equally or more important than cultural confinement. Social exclusion can create subcultures, which give a feeling of identity and a sense of belonging in a harsh world. But, at the same time, they generate a feeling of being subordinate outsiders. A feeling of not belonging to the nation can create bitterness and conflicts. It may lead to disputes not only between immigrants and natives, but also between the weak, for instance, working class native children on working class immigrant children.
Migration Cultural Interaction and Multiculturalism in Global World
Cultural systems always determine and specify identities. So cultural changes and transformations reflect on the identities directly. Wherever there is cultural mobility there are identity problems. Today immigration is the uppermost cause of cultural mobility. In this respect it’s (immigration studies) are a remarkable field in social sciences. There was heavy and perpetual immigration from Turkey to European countries especially Germany, which had experienced this effect fact deeply; such that those migrated from Turkey to other European countries, were called as Almancı/Alamancı in their own country. First generation who migrated to different EU regions, because of economic reasons at first, have begun to experience differentiation of culture and identity slowly but deeply. The first-generation immigrants did not cut their ties with the homeland, returning to their homeland after retirement from their adopted EU working home. However, the cultural conflicts arose and new kinds of problems were on the thereshold. European states and societies, concerned about the increasing number of immigrants, are developing projects to resolve ambiguity of their future. On the other hand the immigrant groups do not accept the policies of assimilation and refuse to feel humiliated. They want respect for their beliefs and values . They demand to be accepted as citizens rather than immigrants in Europe. Europeans and immigrants are each trying to protect their culture and identity. Well, how are these reasonable and justified demands to be combined without leading to conflicts and disagreements? Is it correct to insist on assimilation? On the other hand, how to best overcome the problems of multiculturalism? While the Islamophobic policies are reluctant to recognize each other producing new conflict areas in EU countries, how can rational and peaceful solutions be produced? In this study I’ll handle the perception of other, exclusion and inclusion problems in EU, and discuss assimilationist policies and its harmful consequences on the social groups. And I’ll suggest proposals in the context of multiculturalism. Keywords: Globalization, Immigration, Identity, Cultural Change, İslamophobia, Multiculturalism.
Journal of Identity and Migration Studies
2014
Migration has always played a requisite role in the history of mankind. At present the intensity and frequency of cross-border mobility are much higher than in previous decades. In addition, many citizens are children of foreigners and belong to the so called second generation of immigrants, these people belonging to two different cultures. The second generation of immigrants is raised and educated in accordance with the value system of their parents’ country of origin. Outside the home, they familiarize themselves with the national society’s value system, while the kind of neighbourhood in which they live may be more or less encouraging. Cultural assimilation occurs when immigrants voluntarily adopt their new country's language and cultural practices to integrate into society and improve their chances of economic and social gain. Sociologists suggest that differences in cultural integration efforts matter less to the formation of acculturation preferences of the second generati...
Identity and Migration: An introduction
Identity and Migration, Springer, 2015
Identity has increasingly become an important keyword in contemporary human and social sciences to the point that it is nearly impossible to provide an exhaustive synopsis of the different contributions in this field. However, little attention has been devoted to the influence of migration on identity formation and transformation. This chapter introduces the present edited volume that brings together scholars from different disciplines to engage in a conversation about the issue of identity formation and transformation in contemporary multiethnic Europe. Since identity is a broad concept that has been defined differently by various disciplines, a multidisciplinary approach is a highly complex task that continuously risks to results in misunderstandings. Notwithstanding, because a single-sided perspective on identity is not able to address the multifaceted phenomena at stake, a multidisciplinary approach is an appealing challenge that this volume undertakes. This chapter provides a thematic overview of the main issues addressed in the volume: the theoretical questions related to identity in plural and multicultural societies, the effect of migration policies in marginalizing migrants, the relevance of law and rights in the processes of identity construction, the strategies of identity (re)construction through (dis)identification, the relationship of identity with center/periphery dynamics in postcolonial and globalized societies, the salience of membership and belonging, and the (re)articulation of identity through oppositional representations.