Turkey’s International Migration Policies, : An Overview Prof. Dr. Ahmet İçduygu Koç University April 2013

Content Introduction Turkey’s International Migration Flows: Realities and Policies Turkey’s Old Migration Regime(s): Turkey’s New Migration Regime(s): 2000 onwards Concluding Remarks: where to go from here?

Introduction Workshop’s main aim: to initiate a comprehensive assessment of the ruling Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) migration policy reforms over the last ten years It is possible to argue that in the last decade, there is a migratory transition in Turkey – the country becomes a country of immigration (and transit)--- in addition to its role as a country of emigration It is also possible to argue, this does not only imply a “factual development”, but also: a discoursive development, a policy development The question of, to what extent, these related policy changes carry the stamp of the AKP government, or the stamp of the established state apparatus --- must be debated!

Introduction this takes place in a period of transformation that is prone to a dynamic tension between the nationalist (and developmentalist) legacies (the politics of the past) and the worldviews based on globalism, transnationalism, and EU-zation as a part of the modernity project: initially dominated by a nation-building process (in a nationally divided world), and later (now) turned into a modern-state building (in a globally integrated world) the Turkish State tends to adopt itself to the country’s emigration and immigration roles in the globalized world Theoretical stand: without ignoring the critics of methodological nationalism, methodological globalism, methodological EU-zation….., BUT with factually dealing with their linkages with migration…

IM TRANSITION AND CHANGING STATE POLICIES IN TURKEY Nationalism and Developmentalism and their Legacies 2000s Legacy of Nationalism and Developmentalism (Politics of Past) Versus Globalism/ Transnationalism/ EU-zation, and New-Ottomanism (?) Migration- related State- Worldviews on Policy- making /60 IM through the lenses of Nationalism 1950/ IM through the lenses of Developmentalism IM through the lenses of Mixed Worldviews (nat, dev, glob, etc.) 2000s IM through the lenses of EU-zation/Globalism/ Transnationalism, and New-Ottomanism (?) Dominant Migratory Flows - Emigration of non-Muslim Turkish Citizens - Immigration of “Turks” and “Muslims” - Emigration of Turkish Citizens - Emigration of non- Muslim Turkish Citizens -Emigration of Turkish Citizens - Immigration of “non-Turks” and “non-Muslims” -Emigration of Turkish Citizens Turkey’s International Migration Flows: Realities and Policies

Turkey’s International Migration Flows: Realities and Policies - New Migration Regime(s): 2000 onwards Milestones (before 2000): The 1994 Regulation on Procedures and Principles related to mass influx and foreigners arriving in Turkey either as individuals or in groups wishing to seek asylum either from Turkey or requesting residence permits with the intension of seeking asylum from a third Country. No: 94/6169, The Official Gazette No: (30 November 1994) first pro-active administrative/legislative attempt for migration management in the globalizing world of 1990s in Turkey it reflects the tension between the nationalist legacies (the politics of the past) and the worldviews based on globalism and transnationalism

Turkey’s International Migration Flows: Realities and Policies - New Migration Regime(s): 2000 onwards Milestones (after 2000): 2003 Law for Work Permits of Foreigners 2005 Action Plan on Migration and Asylum (EU-based) 2006 Law of Settlement 2006 New Visa Liberalization Practices in Turkey 2010 Establishment of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities “Draft Law on Foreigners and International Protection” Draft Readmission Agreement between the EU and Turkey (and possible Visa Facilitation Agreement)

Concluding Remarks: where to go from here? In order to have a comprehensive assessment of the changing policies of the international migration in Turkey over the last ten years It is necessary to view these changes as a part of the ongoing modernity project: initially dominated by a nation-building process (in a nationally divided world), and later (now) turned into a modern-state building (in a globally integrated world) as a part of the transformation that is prone to a dynamic tension between the nationalist legacies (the politics of the past) and the worldviews based on globalism, transnationalism, and EU-zation, (and new-Ottomanism (?) through the dynamic interplay of various actors and processes at national, regional, and global levels

Concluding Remarks: where to go from here? a comprehensive assessment of the changing policies of the international migration in Turkey over the last ten years must view the fact that the new policy-making is Proactive rather than reactive Planned rather than ad hoc Comprehensive rather than partial Concerned rather than ignorant The question of to what extent, related policy changes carry the stamp of the AKP government, or the stamp of the established state apparatus is open to debate? Evidence of the importance of established state apparatus Evidence of the conditionality, socialization, differentiation, joint- ownership elements of the EU-zation Evidence of the importance of political will (AKP!) A proposed study of two bureaucrats through “state ethnography” Mr. Mehmet Terzioğlu of “Yabancılar” and Mr. Atilla Toros of “Göç ve İltica”

“thank you…”