Recoding Europeanness

A comparative study of German-Turks and French-Turks

Abstract

Based on the findings of a recent quantitative and qualitative research project, "Euro-Turks: A Bridge, or a Breach, between Turkey and the European Union” (Kaya and Kentel, 2005), the main premise of this article is that Euro-Turks largely display a rather different picture from what is stereotypically represented in both Turkey and their countries of settlement. Comparing German-Turks and French-Turks, my aim is to reveal the extent to which Euro-Turks have integrated into the political, economic and cultural spheres of their receiving societies, as well as to understand their orientation to the European Union, Europeanness, their countries of settlement, Turkey and Islam. In light of two recent rival EU projects (politically defined syncretic and prospective Europe, and culturally defined holistic and retrospective Europe), I also argue that Euro-Turks have already created a space for themselves in a politically and economically defined Europe.