Should Turkey be allowed to join the European Union? This question is being debated throughout Europe, but it has a greater importance in Germany than in any other country. Germany is Turkey’s most important EU trade partner, and Germany is home to the largest Turkish immigrant community – more than 1.88 million people – by far the largest non-indigenous group in Germany (the next largest group, Italians, is only 600,000). Chancellor Schröder and Foreign Minister Fischer have been consisently supportive of Turkey’s EU membership.
But Turkey remains a highly controversial topic in Germany. Recent polls indicate that only 35% of Germans are in favor of Turkey becoming a full EU mamber. In recent elections, right-wing extremist parties have gained ground by warning against hordes of Turkish workers streaming into Germany and competing for jobs. The leadership of the CDU and CSU – sensing an opportunity – have rejected Turkey’s bid, and instead are propsing a national petition/referendum on the issue. Angela Merkel has suggested that Turkey be granted a “special partnership” with Germany in lieu of EU membership. Schröder has forcefully rejected this CDU/CSU maneuver:
Bundeskanzler Gerhard Schröder (SPD) verteidigte indes Beitrittsverhandlungen. “Für mich ist das strategische und sicherheitspolitische Argument entscheidend”, sagte er der Zeitschrift “Focus”. Wenn die Türkei sich mit dem Ziel Europa konsequent weiter reformiere, “können wir das Land stabilisieren und eine Verbindung aus europäischer Aufklärung und nicht fundamentalistischem Islam schaffen”. Bedenken hinsichtlich einer Überforderung der EU nehme er ernst.
The leader of the Turkish community in Germany has also reacted angrily at Merkel’s proposal, claiming that this will serve to polarize German and Turkish-Germans. “This is a kind of declaration of war on Turkey and Turks living in Germany.”
The problem of non-assimilation of Turks living in Germany is serious, and is problably the underlying reason why so many Germans oppose admitting Turkey into the EU. Why is it that after 40 years of Turkish immigration in Germany they remain marginalized? Giovanni di Lorenzo has an excellent piece in Die Zeit which analyzes this in some depth. Di Lorenzo notes that it is the youngest generation – those born in Germany who speak the language and attend German schools – who are the most alienated:
Diese Neigung wird noch verstärkt durch ein Phänomen, das paradoxerweise gerade die dritte Generation der Türken in Deutschland betrifft: den zunehmenden Rückzug in eine türkische Parallelwelt.
But why is it this way? Di Lorenzo blames it on the lack of skills, on the fact that Turkish parents do not value education. But why are Turkish immigrants so successful in the US? Why are all immigrant groups able to succeed in US society through hard work and risk-taking? Di Lorenzo needs to examine the apparently unsurmountable constraints in German society that prevent real opportunity and assimilation.
