Rethinking the Dynamics of a New Wave of Turkish Migration to Australia

Abstract

This paper argues that under the rulership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP), since the beginning of 2000s, Turkey has been going through a massive transformation towards authoritarianism and conservatism and that this transformation has triggered a new surge of emigration, predominantly to Europe but also to countries like the UK, Australia and Canada. Situating a new wave of migration from Turkey to Australia within this milieu, the paper focuses on the migratory experiences of skilled Turkish migrants living in Sydney. Research draws on an extensive fieldwork in Sydney conducted over a period of 12 months, including participant observation among new wave of migrants and in-depth interviews with 28 individuals who have migrated from Turkey to Australia since 2010. Using this ethnographic data, the article unpacks the nature and the dynamics of this new wave of migration. The findings suggest there is an emergent Turkish community in Sydney, made up predominantly of well educated, mobile, highly skilled, culturally fluent, cosmopolitan, individuals who have left Turkey due to the political atmosphere and have restarted their lives in Australia. The article concludes by briefly discussing what the implications of this ‘brain drain’ might be.

Keywords

• Migration
• Skilled Migrant
• Turkish Diaspora
• Turkey
• Australia

Türkiye’den Avustralya’ya Yeni Göç Dalgasının Dinamikleri

Abstract

Bu makale, Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi'nin (AKP) iktidarı altında, 2000'li yılların başından bu yana Türkiye'nin otoriterlik ve muhafazakârlık yönünde büyük bir dönüşümden geçtiğini ve bu dönüşümün ağırlıklı olarak Avrupa'ya ama aynı zamanda İngiltere, Avustralya ve Kanada gibi ülkelere yeni bir göç dalgasını tetiklediğini savunmaktadır. Türkiye'den Avustralya'ya gerçekleşen güncel göç hareketlerini bu bağlamda ele alan bu çalışma, Avustralya’nın Sidney kentinde yaşayan vasıflı Türkiyeli göçmenlerin göç deneyimlerine odaklanmaktadır. Araştırma, Sidney'de 12 ay boyunca yeni dalga göçmenler arasında yürütülen katılımcı gözlemi ve 2010'dan bu yana Türkiye'den Avustralya'ya göç etmiş 28 kişiyle derinlemesine görüşmeleri içeren kapsamlı bir saha çalışmasına dayanmaktadır. Makale, etnografik verileri kullanarak, bu yeni göç dalgasının doğasını ve dinamiklerini ortaya çıkarmayı hedeflemektedir. Bulgular, Sidney'de, ağırlıklı olarak Türkiye'deki siyasi ve sosyal atmosfer nedeniyle Türkiye'yi terk eden ve Avustralya'da hayatlarına yeniden başlayan iyi eğitimli, mobil, vasıflı, kozmopolit, seküler bireylerden oluşan küçük ama gelişmekte olan bir Türkiyeli topluluğu olduğunu vurgulamaktadır. Makale, bu 'beyin göçünün' sonuçlarının neler olabileceğini farklı perspektiflerden tartışmaktadır.

Keywords

• Göç
• Türkiye Diasporası
• Vasıflı Göçmen
• Türkiye
• Avustralya

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