CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020
| Author | Atsungur, Görkem |
|---|---|
| Title | The Dual Process of Identity Formation and Collective Mobilization from Below: Turkish Diaspora on Kinship Care in Germany |
| Summary | In the literature, diasporas have been long considered as "objects" of the kin-states. Accordingly, they are mobilized by the political elites, when there are critical developments in the "homeland." Such communities are viewed as "agents of economic and social development" in the countries of origin. Several scholars thus demonstrate that diasporas are "passive, delineated, and altruistic communities," and their primary role is to support the homeland's interests. On the other hand, diasporas are not pre-existing entities, and they do not always translate their "emotional attachment" to direct actions. Besides, diasporas are not homogeneous ethnic lobbying groups, and they have different agendas with diverse interests. Rather, diasporas are identity- and interest-based communities, whereby they are mobilized in a variety of places and spaces beyond the homeland for various reasons. In this vein, diaspora mobilization should be considered as a self-organized and grassroots social movement (with or without the active support of the homeland) whereby ordinary transnational migrants take an active part in various socio-political activities for their needs, interests, and identities. Diasporas subsequently act as social and political actors in everyday life and challenge the state-centric power and elite-driven top-down approach of mobilization diasporization. Diasporas, furthermore, form biopolitical collectivities on "the correct way of life," and (re-)influence the policies of both the homeland and the hostland. Under these circumstances, there is a dual process of diasporic identities formation and collective mobilization based on those constructed transnational identities. Diasporic identities are not formed as a "natural and automatic result of migration;" hence, they are socially and politically constructed. Diasporas, "as communities that care," demonstrate their morality, care, and solidarity, particularly when they or their co-ethnics face precarious living conditions in the hostland. Apart from the homeland, the hostland environment also helps or hinders diaspora mobilization. Consequently, the main aim of this dissertation is to analyze diaspora mobilization from below. Within a theoretically informed analysis diaspora-led mobilization and mixed methodology of the study of Turkish communities in Germany, this research examines an in-depth study of bottom-up diaspora mobilization on the selected issue (kinship foster care). The central research question of the dissertation is, "how does diaspora mobilization occur from below?" The sub-questions are "how do ordinary transnational migrants become diaspora entrepreneurs to construct diasporic identities in everyday life?" and "how do diaspora communities establish networks and relations for diasporic care and solidarity on threshold events?" Since there is a lack of sensitivity and analytical capacity to examine diasporas as non-state actors in the literature, this dissertation offers a new theoretical and methodological framework in diaspora politics. It also highlights the importance of the hostland factor in diaspora mobilization rather than giving excessive attention to the homeland and kin-states' geopolitical interests. The dissertation, therefore, explores the precarious living conditions of the hostland and biopolitical discourses of diasporas on the correct way of life. The research findings demonstrate that diaspora communities are highly mobilized based on their needs, interests, and identities, whereby they participate in both online and offline socio-political activities. Through collective mobilization, diasporas resonate with their transnational, hybrid identities on and across the various web and social media platforms, and they take part in collective actions in everyday life. Online and offline worlds subsequently interact together in diaspora mobilization. As a result, this dissertation contributes to the literature on identity building of transnational communities such as diasporas, and mobilization of disadvantaged communities in the hostlands. The dissertation, furthermore, gives direct voices to diaspora communities and not talk about them in their absence and the abstract form. |
| Supervisor | Melnykovska, Inna |
| Department | International Relations PhD |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2020/atsungur_gorkem.pdf |
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