Monday, 26 January 2009

Turkey - Germany Case Study


Turkey – Germany – Migration Case Study

This is the mystery we were looking at on Monday in class. These notes are important, so print off a copy if you missesd it.

Background
Many people move from Turkey to other countries to improve their standard of living.
Since 1945 most have migrated to other European countries – Germany has been very popular.
Originally Turkish workers were welcomed to Germany – they were gastarbeiters (guest workers) who migrated there for work on a temporary basis. The migrants however in 1973 foreign workers were banned from entering Germany, mostly male, were allowed to work in Germany for a period of one or two years before returning to the home country in order to make room for other migrants. Many migrants did return, after having built up savings for their return. However, many migrants decided not to return to their home countries and were joined in Germany by their families. As they started to settle down and form new ethnic minority communities, the government and others in society largely ignored the migrants. This led to educational, religious and social segregation of the migrants in Germany.

Why Germany?
WW2 left Germany with very few people of working age, there was much rebuilding to be done and to encourage people to come and work in the country Germany set up recruitment offices in Turkish cities offering good jobs, with good money.

Effect of this migration on Turkey
People left the countryside – less pressure on land – farms grew bigger and more profitable.
Young people left – fewer children born
Unemployment was reduced
Migrants sent money back to their families
When migrants returned they brought new ideas and skills
However:
Turkey lost its most able and educated people
The countryside had very few young people so conditions could not improve
Families were broken up
There were not enough people to defend Turkish borders and fight in the army

Effects on Germany
Germany welcomed the migrants – they took low paid, dirty jobs and worked long hours
However:
There were not enough houses
Language barriers caused problems
Racial tensions broke out
In the 70/80s Germany was hit by the recession and many Turks lost their jobs, racial tensions increased further between unemployed Germans and those Turkish migrants that were still employed.

Returning to Turkey
Some returned as soon as they had enough money to improve their lives
Many stayed in Germany they like it! So Germany began to offer grants to encourage people to leave (although few have taken up the offer)

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