Doom and Gloom: Leaving Erdoğan's Turkey

Abstract

Since the outset of the 2000s, the "Turkish model" embracing Islamic liberalism was set as an example for the Muslim world in turmoil. Today, far from being a desired model country, even many of its own citizens feel despair about Turkey's political and economic future and are looking for a new life abroad, while thousands of others flee repression, seeking asylum in Western, democratic countries. Despite its wide recognition as a host or transit country in current migration flows, Turkey has traditionally been one of the top emigration countries, with over 6.7 million diasporans and another three million permanent returnees. The ongoing outflow, widely ranging from asylum seekers to wealthy businesspeople, represents Turkey's fifth emigration wave in its republican history. Relations with Turkey and different asylum regimes specific to respective host countries largely shape what kind of migration is being received from Turkey. While academics, journalists, and artists have developed a vigilant diaspora activism in opposition to Turkey's current ruling party, most newcomer-emigrants remain in relative seclusion. This is because they lack trust in Turkish institutions and organisations abroad, as well as in other diaspora groups emerging from Turkey. While Turkish emigration does not appear to be waning anytime soon, European authorities should enhance their solidary networks with threatened groups and diversify legal means of acquiring visas for the young, educated, and easy-to-integrate groups. The current wave has deepened intra-diaspora strife, which can be diminished if host countries increase communication with diaspora organisations and their representatives to eliminate discrimination and nurture social cohesion.