Abstract
The essentialization of identity coupled with its confused association with loyalty has ensured that issues related to identity are at the forefront of politics, and are used as a platform to generate moral panics which are fuelled by the mass corporate media. Different socio-political contexts affect identity construction among Turkish Muslims in Germany and Australia. Based on qualitative interview data collected in 2008 and 2009 in Germany and Australia, this paper examines the circumstances that influence the self-conception of the Turkish Muslims in both countries. The different political and demographic circumstances of each country are described and their impact on identity formation taken into account. Then we use labeling theory, that is, differences in the language, concepts and official descriptions used by the powerful in each society to label minority groups (Akers 1999), in order to examine the impact of top-down government policies on identity construction among Turkish communities in Australia and Germany - a major example of this being the contrast between Australia's multicultural policies with Germany's assimilationist integration policies.
Highlights
The different political and demographic circumstances of each country are described and their impact on identity formation taken into account
We use labeling theory, that is, differences in the language, concepts and official descriptions used by the powerful in each society to label minority groups (Akers 1999), in order to explore the impact of top-down government policies on identity construction among Turkish communities in Australia and Germany – a major example of this being the contrast between Australia‟s multicultural policies with Germany‟s assimilationist integration policies
We proposed that the labeling of minority groups has an impact of identity construction, on the self-conception of the individuals, as well as the perception of the wider-society of the minority group
Summary
The essentialization of identity coupled with its confused association with loyalty has ensured that issues related to identity are at the forefront of politics, and are used as a platform to generate moral panics which are fuelled by the mass corporate media. The different socio-political circumstances that influence the identity construction of Turkish Muslims in Germany and Australia can be traced back to the early days of migration, the 1960s and 1970s, when there was demand for foreign labor to supply and promote the economic development of Germany and Australia This demand for people led to the signing of bilateral migration agreements between Turkey and these two countries. The 2006 Census showed that 59,393 Australian residents claimed Turkish descent, with 30,495 of those having been born in Turkey This reflection from Australia‟s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade highlights a second major policy difference between Australia and European countries. Australian social policy recognizes Islam, place of birth and other identity bases as legitimate, but as needing to be taken into account in social service delivery
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