Belonging and identity among migrants from Turkey in Denmark

In recent times, more than ever, individuals are on the move and are interacting constantly with each other, both physically and virtually, thereby creating a world of interactive Networks. From the early 19th century migration has been a research subject in different social science disciplines. Migration is accepted as temporary movement and migrants are seen as object whose actions are shaped by prevailing macro level conditions. Most research on Turkish migration focuses on whether the migrants were successfully integrated into their new host countries and the causes and the patterns of migration. However, in this study, migrants from Turkey residing in Denmark are seen as agents, both in mobility and as carriers of culture between their respective countries of origin and residence.In addition to individual migration the mass labour movement from Turkey to Denmark began in the late 1960?s and even in recent times, with asylum seekers, labour and study migration this trend continues. This study focuses on migrants as members of a family and also on groups with mezzo level interactions. In this context, I look at migration to Denmark in parallel to that to other European countries from Turkey with a focus on the following two aspects: Firstly, I differentiate Turkish migration to Denmark from Turkish migration to other countries. Secondly, I present different groups among the Turkish migrant population and analyse the interplay between migrants from other countries and the locals. With mobility in this context, I focus on the daily life (routines and rituals) of the Turkish migrants and their descendants as a transnational community and analyze their sense of belonging and identity in Denmark. A migrant?s Identity and their sense of belonging are embedded within the realm of their daily life. As a result I analyze their social, economic and psychological routines and any other rituals which are performed to affirm their identity and belonging. I conceptualize belonging as emotional attachments and as the ties and interactions between ?the self? and the society.Initially, to analyze migrant belongings and identity, I examine the ties of migrants from Turkey and their descendents to their country of origin and also to their country of residence. Thereafter, I look at how these ties affect their identity formation and interactions between these individuals and both country of origin and residence society. Lastly, I investigate how these ties shape their daily routines and performative belongings. I combine quantitative and qualitative methods in order to answer all these questions, comprising of a survey and ethnographic field. I collected 480 detailed and structured questionnaires completed by Turkish immigrants and furthermore I conducted participant observations, face-to-face and semi-structured interviews with an additional 25.In this study, I find out migrants and their descendants who are living in Turkey and Denmark are connected through social and cultural ties. These ties bind individuals and the groups in which they reside in the context of space; they are then altered and transmitted to their descendants. I find these ties can be cultural, economic, religious, linguistic, political, national and emotional in nature. Together these ties constitute the identity of the migrants and these identities emerge as both relational and contextual. Transnational practices become routine in the lives of these individuals and their identities are affirmed by their daily rituals which also transmit their culture to future generations. While the local cultural practices of Turkish migrants may differ by geographical region, there is a common cultural heritage and background which is shared by all people from Turkey. These shared values are undeniably important determinants in the identity formation of future generations.