Nuri Sahin loves playing Football, and the 17 years old young man is fortunate, for he can actually make a living from this love. He is Germany's youngest professional player. Pundits regard the Borussia Dortmund forward as one of the greatest German footballing talents ever. However, if Turkey had qualified for the final round, Nuri Sahin would have been playing for them in the World Cup 2006 tournament in Germany. Although he was born in Germany and grew up in the small German town of Lüdenscheid, he still has decided to remain a Turkish citizen and play for Turkey rather than for Germany. “I am one hundred percent Turkish”, said Nuhin in a newspaper interview1, “although there is undeniably a part of me that is German.”
He is by no means the only one. Other members of Turkey's national team who were born and who are still living in Germany have also decided against playing for the country of their birth.
Born in Germany, raised in Germany, educated in Germany and growing old in Germany, but still feeling Turkish rather than German – that sums up not only what Nuri Sahin sees as his identity, but also the way a significant proportion of the 1.76 Million2 Turks currently living in Germany feel about themselves.
Turks constitute by far the largest group of immigrants in Germany. In the following text I will take a closer look into the situation of the Turkish Community in Germany, the way it has established itself and the problems and conflicts it experiences within German society.
Table of Contents
TURKISH IMMIGRANTS IN GERMANY AND THEIR CULTURAL CONFLICTS
A short history of Turkish Immigration into Germany
Turkish Immigrants and the German economy
Not welcomed in a closed society
Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This work examines the historical development and current status of the Turkish community in Germany, focusing on the social, cultural, and religious challenges faced by immigrants in their attempts to establish themselves within German society.
- Historical background of Turkish labor migration to West Germany
- Economic contributions and the professional integration of Turkish entrepreneurs
- Social dynamics and the phenomenon of "parallel societies"
- Impact of the 2005 Immigration Bill on citizenship and identity
- Interplay between religion, traditional values, and integration
Excerpt from the Book
A short history of Turkish Immigration into Germany
After the end of World War II West-Germany's badly damaged economy recovered rapidly and the process of rebuilding its industrial core required a workforce far larger than the country could provide for itself. So the West German government looked to the Mediterranean for a solution to her problem.
The basic idea was not to invite immigrants into the country but rather to invite guest workers. Guest workers were by definition labourers who would be contracted for a specific job for a certain time. This policy was not specifically German, but very much in line with employment strategies that the rest of Western and Northern Europe employed at that time.
Consequently governments of several south European and North African countries signed recruitment treaties with West Germany, Italy (1955), Spain (1960), Greece (1960), Turkey (1961 and 1964), Morocco (1963), Portugal (1964), Tunisia (1965) and Yugoslavia (1968)1.
Summary of Chapters
TURKISH IMMIGRANTS IN GERMANY AND THEIR CULTURAL CONFLICTS: This introductory chapter outlines the identity struggles of individuals like Nuri Sahin and sets the stage for analyzing the broader Turkish community in Germany.
A short history of Turkish Immigration into Germany: This chapter details the post-WWII labor shortage that led to recruitment treaties and explains how "guest workers" eventually settled permanently despite initial temporary policies.
Turkish Immigrants and the German economy: This section explores the economic integration of Turkish individuals, highlighting their role as entrepreneurs and their rising influence in various sectors of German society.
Not welcomed in a closed society: This chapter addresses the systemic barriers faced by immigrants, including housing discrimination, religious differences, and the complexities surrounding the German identity and the new Immigration Bill.
Conclusion: This final section synthesizes the transition from guest workers to citizens, noting the remaining conflicts and proposing a potential European-Turkish-German identity as a future resolution.
Keywords
Turkish immigrants, Germany, Guest workers, Integration, Cultural conflicts, Identity, Economy, Labor recruitment, Islam, Citizenship law, Zuwanderungsgesetz, Parallel society, Social discrimination, Migration history, Diaspora
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work provides an overview of the history of Turkish migration to Germany and analyzes the socio-economic and cultural challenges the community faces within German society.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include the transition from labor recruitment to permanent settlement, economic contribution, religious integration, and the evolving legal framework for citizenship.
What is the main objective of the author?
The author aims to highlight the dual nature of Turkish immigration, which is marked by both economic success and significant social and cultural conflicts.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The text employs a historical and sociological analysis, drawing on statistical data, government policy reviews, and existing academic literature to explain the current situation of Turks in Germany.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections cover the history of recruitment treaties, the economic impact of Turkish businesses, the difficulties in social and housing integration, and the effects of recent citizenship law changes.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Turkish migration, guest workers, integration, parallel society, economic contribution, and German identity.
How did the 2005 "Zuwanderungsgesetz" change the situation for Turkish immigrants?
It officially recognized Germany as an immigration country and introduced significant reforms to the citizenship law, allowing for dual nationality until the age of 18.
Why does the author argue that German identity remains a point of contention for immigrants?
The author suggests that because post-war Germans themselves struggle with expressing national pride due to the legacy of the Third Reich, it is difficult for immigrants to feel a sense of belonging in a society that is itself unsure of its identity.
- Citar trabajo
- BA(Hons) Edgar Klüsener (Autor), 2006, Turkish immigrants in Germany and their cultural conflicts, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/70232
