“Turkish Vorarlberg” – Hüseyin Çiçek in a series of correspondence with the Vorarlberger Nachrichten
Immigration Society in Vorarlberg – Part 1: History
With the article „Turkish Life in Vorarlberg – How the Turkish Immigration Society developed in the federal state” a new series of correspondence was announced between EZIRE associate Dr. Hüseyin Çiçek and the Vorarlberger Nachrichten. (28.08.2018)
The series aims to bring more attention to different aspects of the Turkish community in the Austrian federal state. Many things were unknown and little differentiation had been practiced when reporting about the Turkish diaspora living in Austria. A defecit, which the VN and the EZIRE research associate wanted to catch up on.
Part one focuses on the history of Turkish immigration, which began in the 1950s, according to Çiçek. He explains how Islam found its way into politics and with migrants of the 1960s to Austria and Germany. Towards the end of the 1970s, a “islamic-nationalist identity” had formed and solidified, in connection to the Iranian Revolution and the beginning of the war in Afghanistan. By way of Turkish teachings, newspapers, Turkish organisations and by now social networks, these identities also had an influence on the Turkish diaspora living in Vorarlberg.
Podcast with Hüseyin Çiçek: Parts 1 and 2
As part of the series “Turkish Vorarlberg, EZIRE research associate Hüseyin Çiçek, who is spearheading the series as co-author, sat down for some background conversation. Part 1 of the Podcast reveals background information about the series, the immigration history of Vorarlberg and everyday life. Part 2 offers insight into the roots of so-called parallel society and ventures forth into a discussion about the political situation in Turkey. (11. & 12.10.2018)
In the first part of the podcast, the political scientist reflects on the first few weeks of the series: The emotional and exaggerated responses were a clear indicator that more information about the topic was necessary and the series even more relevant. He ends on different dynamics of the Turkish working life and the big topic of institutional representation of the Turkish community on a regional and national level.
Part 2 starts out with a bold hypothesis by VN-editor in chief Gerold Riedmann: “We live in a spotless parallel society, don’t we Hüseyin? Çiçek differentiates the claim at first by talking about the many aspects of life where points of contact do exist. It was true, however, that – amplified by digital and social media – different news were consumed, and that they were available in a “better, faster and more filtered context.” The end of the talk is dominated by the challenges created by the current political climate in Turkey and how they affect the Turkish community in Vorarlberg as well as Austrian and German politics.