Mass migration and national identity in Türkiye: A study on "Staatsnation" and "Kulturnation" models

The geographic region where Türkiye is situated has experienced several population movements, particularly within the past two centuries. The occurrence of mass migrations in both recent history and the present serves as evidence that this movement of people persists. Hence, it can be asserted that Türkiye is a nation characterized by immigration, as individuals continuously migrate in and out. The significant influx of immigrants, along with the quantity and quality of this immigrant community, is expected to give rise to political, social, and cultural challenges both presently and in the foreseeable future, potentially resulting in an identity crisis within society. The influx of immigrants from many nations, each with distinct political systems, lifestyles, and cultural heritage, including their native languages, further strengthens this circumstance in Türkiye. The absence of political discourse resulting from the cascade of issues stemming from the refusal to acknowledge its status as a nation of immigration is likewise interconnected with this predicament. The problem of how immigrants will integrate with the existing political and social structure is particularly significant in this context. Inevitably, without the implementation of an integration program for immigrants, the process of ghettoization among immigrant populations and the emergence of conflicts between immigrants and the receiving communities will occur. France and Germany, both well-acquainted with enormous immigration, have been undergoing immigrant integration for an extensive period. Both nation-states have formulated models that are well-suited to their particular circumstances. France's conception of nation is redefined as a political entity with a state-centric (staatsnation) and all-encompassing purpose as a consequence of the French Revolution. In order to facilitate the integration of immigrants, the Republic prioritized the transmission of its values and norms through a well-established super-identity, identifying itself as a "nation of immigrants". Contrarily, Germany was established as a culture-nation (kulturnation) centered around the "volk" and characterized by exclusivity prior to its unification in 1871. Regarding this matter, he characterizes immigrants as "foreigners" by asserting that "Germany is not a nation of immigrants". This thesis examines the integration models of the two states in question and identifies the features that are suitable for Türkiye's special situations. It aims to produce an integration proposal that aligns with Türkiye's definition of nation and national identity. Keywords: National identity, staatsnation, kulturnation, immigrant, integration