Abstract
AbstractPeople of Turkish ethnicity constitute Germany’s largest immigrant group but only a small percentage have naturalized as German citizens This article explores the historical foundation of Turkish migration to Germany and the legislative attempts made by both Germany and Turkey to accommodate these people with one foot in each country. It argues that only by abandoning its long-held prejudice against dual citizenship can Germany increase the naturalization rate of all foreigners in its country, not just those from Turkey.
Highlights
People of Turkish ethnicity constitute Germany’s largest immigrant group but only a small percentage have naturalized as German citizens This article explores the historical foundation of Turkish migration to Germany and the legislative attempts made by both Germany and Turkey to accommodate these people with one foot in each country
German governments and Turkish organizations in Germany tried addressing the perceived problem caused by the large number of Turkish heritage residents who had not taken on German citizenship
The Germans saw the Turks’ failure to naturalize as demonstrating a lack of attachment to Germany, while Turks maintained that it was the requirement of renouncing their Turkish citizenship that was the cause of the low naturalization rate
Summary
When the thousands of Turkish workers moved to Germany, the German government thought that most would be men, who would work there for a few years, send money back home, and return to Turkey with cash and new skills. Many lived in dormitories provided by their employers, where they remained among themselves They were not encouraged to learn the German language beyond the bare minimum required to carry out their jobs. By 2002, only one-third of the Turks in Germany had arrived as guest workers, approximately fifty-three percent of Turkish residents had immigrated to Germany under family reunification visas, and seventeen percent were their descendants born in Germany.. German governments and Turkish organizations in Germany tried addressing the perceived problem caused by the large number of Turkish heritage residents who had not taken on German citizenship. The Germans saw the Turks’ failure to naturalize as demonstrating a lack of attachment to Germany, while Turks maintained that it was the requirement of renouncing their Turkish citizenship that was the cause of the low naturalization rate
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