Diaspora Mobilization and Identity Construction of Ukrainian Immigrants in Turkey: ‘Ukrainians started to become more Ukrainian’

Özgür E. M., Deniz A.

NATIONALITIES PAPERS, cilt.1, sa.1, ss.1, 2023 (SSCI)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 1 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1017/nps.2023.80
  • Dergi Adı: NATIONALITIES PAPERS
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, American Bibliography of Slavic & Eastern European Studies (ABSEES), Educational research abstracts (ERA), Geobase, Historical Abstracts, Index Islamicus, Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Political Science Complete, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The article analyses the effect of Ukrainian associations on construction of immigrant identity in Turkey at the intersection of diaspora politics and diaspora lived experiences. Ukrainian immigrant associations -whose numbers and members rapidly increased after Russia’s annexation of Crimea -became critical players in immigrants’ ethno-national identity construction. This aligned with the Ukrainian government’s changing diaspora policy and shaped immigrants’ relationship with the homeland. The associations, therefore, facilitated diaspora activism from above and below. These associations are mainly engaged in activities related to the teaching of Ukrainian language, history, and culture so that immigrants can distinguish themselves from Russians and discover their own uniqueness. They also consider the migrant status of Ukrainians in Turkey and develop an awareness of ethno-national identity by negotiating transnational identities.