Migration – Transnationalism – Memory A qualitative analysis of „On the Outskirts“ by Aysun Bademsoy Dr. Barbara Laubenthal Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Outline 1. German migration history and migration research 2. The concept of transnationalism 3. „On the outskirts“ – selected scenes 4. Characteristics of „failed“ transmigrants 5. Scientific and political implications

3 - Roots of current Turkish population in Germany in recruitment policies of the 1960s : Turkish citizens in Germany (26,1 %) : 15,3 million people with a migration background in Germany (19% of total resident population) - Migration research has overwhelmingly focused on integration „problem“ of foreign population 1. German migration history and migration research

4 2. The concept of transnationalism - During the last two decades new political, social, cultural and economic realities have emerged in the context of migration that span across countries of origin and receiving countries  intensified ties between two or more countries - The relationship between social and geographical space has significantly changed  new social spaces emerge that span and cross national borders - Basch et al. (1993): „We define transnationalism as the processes by which immigrants forge and sustain multi-stranded social relations that link together societies of origin and settlement. We call these processes ‚transnationalism‘ to emphasise that many immigrants today build social fields that cross geographic, cultural and political borders“

5 The concept of transnationalism: idealtypes of migrants (Pries 2000) Relation- ship to country of origin Relation- ship to receiving country Main reason for migration Time frame for migration Emigrant/ Immigrant Withdrawal/ „Good-bye“ Integration/ new home economic/ social/ Cultural unlimited/ long-term Return Migrant Keeping of identity Difference/ host country Economic/ political temporary/ short-term Transmigrant ambivalent/ mixture economicunclear/ sequential

6 Characteristics of transmigrants: modern cosmopolitic actors  „There is a growing number of persons who live dual lives: speaking two languages, having home in two countries, and making a living through continous regular contact across national borders“ (Portes et al. 1999)  „These people talked about advantages and disadvantages of both the region of origin and the region of arrival. When asked about their future plans, they said they only made plans for 2 or 3 years, then they would see ‚what God would do with them‘“. The typical transmigrant changed countries 4-5 times during his labour biography“ (Pries 2000).

7 A new type of migrants: „failed“ transmigrants While the transmigrant in Pries/Portes’ conceptualization easily changes between places, and the return migrant rearrives (and mentally/emotionally really rearrives) at his old home, the failed transmigrant psychologically and emotionally lives in a no man’ s land, but is physically confined to/trapped in a geographical place.

8 4. Characteristics of „failed“ transmigrants  The film shows transmigrants, who however do not recurrently physically cross borders. The transmigrants in “On the outskirts” are permanently settled in one place; they live however however in an architectural Provisorium that reflects their lack of real place of belonging  The inner world of the failed transmigrants is dominated by powerful transnational spaces of memory that lead to an ambivalence between the “two worlds” and that prevent an emotional and psychological arrival in Turkey

9 Scientific and political implications  memory and emotions are central concepts for understanding migration  high relevance of (architectural) spaces and places for analysing migration  Public debate must acknowledge migration history and its transnational dimension  One possible step: double citizenship for migrants who have returned to their country of origin