Transnational Linkages and Recognition The Case of Immigrants’ Religious Organizations in Germany

Tez Türü: Doktora

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet München, Sosyal Bilimler Fakültesi, Siyaset Bilimi, Almanya

Tez Danışmanı: Prof. Dr. Klaus H. Goetz; Prof. Dr. Petra Stykow

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2021

Tezin Dili: İngilizce

Desteklendiği Program: Diğer

Özet:

Migration and related issues have become amongst the most salient issues on the

agendas of industrialized European countries in recent decades. Advances in communication

and transportation technologies have increased the movements of migrants between their initial

home countries and their host countries and have given growing prominence to the issue of

transnationalism. Increasing naturalization and integration efforts in the host states are

revealing new issues, such as how to deal with the migrant communities’ differences. Against

this background, this study aims to fill a gap at the intersection of literatures about the Turkish

immigrant communities in Germany, transnationalism and religious recognition. The research

question asks whether there is a causal relationship between the transnational linkages of

Turkish religious organizations and the processes of their recognition in Germany. A

comparative case study design based on the most similar cases model has been chosen to

explore this question. In this frame, AABF and DİTİB, two transnational religious

organizations that differ in terms of the ‘substance of transnational links’ were chosen and

systematically analyzed based on data collected using qualitative methods.

Among the factors examined, the historical trajectory of the Turkish communities in Germany

and the varying policies towards these communities of both home and host countries is found

to be significant. While exploring this context, the recognition of religious organizations in

Germany and the main challenges of Turkish organizations are explained. The analysis

highlights structural deficits, representational problems and the increasing politicization of

Islam and migration come to the fore as central elements.

The empirical core of the study is an in-depth exploration of the case. The empirical findings

indicate that both organizations are the results of lengthy processes in the history of migration

and the have both been influenced by both policy changes and transformations in their

respective communities. An analysis of the organizations according to specific dimensions of

the recognition issues provides the detailed observations needed for a comparative analysis.

Organizational structures, transnational connections and changes in the German authorities’

perception of these organizations are detailed, in addition to recognition processes in three

German states - Hesse, Bavaria and Hamburg - to allow for a more fine-grained comparison.

The comparative analysis reveals important variations along three main dimensions: the

recognition policy as applied to different organizations; attitudes over time; and the key actors

involved. It shows that there is variation between the organizations as far as the results of

recognition processes are concerned, with AABF benefiting thanks to its better organizational

structure. Similarly, German authorities’ attitude towards AABF has been more stable, while

variations are observed over time in DİTİB’s case. Lastly, differences can be seen in the

policies of actors involved in recognition processes in both the vertical and horizontal

dimensions of the German political system. Again, there are fluctuations in DİTİB’s

interactions with different actors at each level, and these have harmed its recognition processes.

In contrast, AABF’s interactions with these actors have always been neutral or positive, with

no major differences changes between the different levels of the German political system.

Based on these observations, the nature of transnational linkages – the critical difference

between the two cases – is offered as an explanatory factor. This difference directly or

indirectly led to a better organizational structure, stable relations with German authorities, and

protection against the rise of politicization in the case of AABF. These factors have worked in

the opposite direction for DİTİB and have hampered its recognition process.

In sum, this study underlines that it is impossible to understand either the development of these

two organizations or how they are perceived – both of which are decisive elements in the

recognition process – without considering their transnational links. Transnationality is a

concept that appears at all stages of the recognition process, from the institutionalization to the

unification of the communities and perceptions about their organization. Therefore, there is a

clear connection between transnationality and recognition policies, depending mainly on the

substance of transnational links. Furthermore, the effects of transnationality can be extended

to the issue of integration. Even though transnationality is generally evaluated as being harmful

to incorporation efforts, the adaptation of a moderate definition of integration could turn

transnationalism into a useful tool for a successful integration policy. All things considered,

the likely future of the recognition of Turkish immigrants’ religious organizations, especially

Islamic ones, does not seem optimistic. However, there are no non-transnational alternatives

that can replace the existing organizations in the field. Therefore, attempts to create joint

platforms and to improve organizational structures are the only ways in which Islamic

organizations can win their struggle for equal recognition in Germany.