THE POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTS OF ORGANISATIONS IN HOMELAND AND HOSTLAND POLITICS: A CASE OF POLITICAL ORGANISATIONS ESTABLISHED BY IMMIGRANTS FROM TURKEY IN GERMANY.

Sixty years have passed since the signing of the Guest Worker Agreement between Germany and Turkey. Although their position within the social fabric of Germany has strengthened, immigrants from Turkey living in Germany have also demonstrated the persistence of transnational ties to their homeland. While traditional studies on migration emphasise the gradual assimilation of immigrants into the sociocultural environment of their host countries, the present study argues that the existence of transnational ties undermines this acculturation process. The focus of this research is to investigate the effects of these transnational ties on the political engagement of immigrant populations. I conducted this research by consulting organisations founded by immigrants from Turkey to Germany or their descendants. Drawing on empirical data from a semi-structured in-depth interview protocol with 18 prominent figures who have assumed leadership roles in various organisations, this study demonstrates that transnational ties have a discernible impact on political processes in both the home and host countries. In the German context, the principles of its democratic and participatory framework, the evolutionary trajectory of citizenship legislation, the prevailing racist and discriminatory undercurrents, and the changing political environment, collectively play important roles in promoting transnational interactions. In the Turkish context, the evolving structure of relations with migrants abroad, the influence of transnational social, political, and religious organisations, the 2012 revised election law, and the relations of political parties have played a decisive role in transnational activities. Based on the influence of nation states, this study offers a conceptual tool to argue that traditional resocialisation trajectory has been disrupted, thus giving rise to a new phase referred to as “post-resocialisation.” Furthermore, while this study accepts that transnational political engagement is inherently a bottom-up process, it argues that nation states continue to play a top-down role in transnational political engagement.