Abstract
In the current international context, the diaspora has become one of the main areas where states’ foreign policy and sovereignty understandings are being redefined. This article examines the transformations in Türkiye’s diaspora policy from the 1960s to the present day within the framework of the realpolitik dynamics of state-diaspora relations. Based on historical and discursive analysis, the study examines Türkiye’s diaspora policy comparatively, covering the first period from 1960 to 2000 and the second period that took shape after 2000. This comparison reveals the causal interrelationship between institutional structure, official discourse, and foreign policy objectives. The findings show that the distant and ‘temporary guest’ discourse that prevailed in the first period evolved into an understanding that positioned the diaspora as a ‘permanent and strategic asset’ after 2000. This transformation is closely linked to the instrumentalisation of the diaspora as a source of soft power, a diplomatic bargaining chip, and a channel for international legitimacy. Germany, the sample country in this study, is seen to have assumed the role of a ‘centre of gravity’ in terms of these policies; at the same time, it has brought with it tensions with host countries over spheres of sovereignty. In conclusion, the article demonstrates that, based on the specific case of Türkiye, diaspora policies are gradually transforming the state into a ‘transnational political entity’ and that this process has become an integral part of 21st-century realpolitik.
Keywords: Diaspora Politikası, Ulus-Ötesi Yönetişim, Realpolitik, Söylemsel Dönüşüm, Türkiye-Almanya İlişkileri
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