Diaspora Diplomacy

Since the early 2000s, Turkey has shown an unprecedented interest in its diaspora. Diaspora diplomacy provides the first in-depth examination of the institutionalisation of Turkey's diaspora engagement policy since the Justice and Development Party's rise to power in 2002 and the Turkish diaspora's new role as an agent of diplomatic goals. It also explores how the country's growing sphere of influence over its overseas population affects intra-diaspora politics and Turkey's diplomatic relations with Europe. The book is based on fourteen months of fieldwork in Turkey, France and Germany. Drawing on more than one hundred interviews conducted with representatives of a wide range of diaspora organisations originating from Turkey, as well as with Turkish, French, German and EU policymakers and journalists, it argues that Turkey has conceived of the conservative elements of its diaspora as a tool of political leverage, mobilised towards enhancing official diplomatic endeavours. At the same time, however, Turkey's selective engagement with its expatriates has complicated relations with disregarded diaspora groups and with Europe. This study contributes to the growing literature on diasporas and diplomacy. Diasporas have come to be understood as influential actors that transform relations at the state-to-state level and blur the division between the domestic and the foreign. A case study of Turkey's diasporas thus represents a significant study at a time when emigrants from Turkey form the largest Muslim community in Europe and when issues of diplomacy, migration, citizenship and authoritarianism have become more salient than ever.