The Effects of the Syrian Crisis on German Politics

Year 2017, Special Issue-1 Middle East and Migration, 50 - 65, 30.11.2017

Şeyma Akın

https://doi.org/10.26513/tocd.318326

Abstract

Although migration has been an issue throughout human
history, migration in the modern world was and is handled and discussed in a
different way. It affects social structures causing bitter disputes within
politics since – in an era dominated by nation-states based on a single
identity- migration is considered a threat challenging local identities. It
also bears challenges for politics especially for societies protected with high
walls. Even countries like the USA, which normally adopt open migration policies,
manage migration policies with strict criteria today. However, it is obvious
that migration will continue due to various political and economic reasons and
that this will be mainly to wealthy regions such as Europe; therefore,
countries affected by the fact need to develop policies in order to cope with
the problem. Particularly the recent Syrian crisis and migration led to
discussions in politics, economics and social life both in the region and in
Europe which can even be seen in the agenda of the EU.  One of the countries directly affected by the
crisis is without doubt Turkey, and it even led to reopening negotiations to
access the EU; thus it brought Turkey and EU together despite disagreements. At
the same time, there are heavy disputes within the EU related to the migration
crisis; here, the position of Germany is significant since it both takes a
leading role in shaping EU policies and advocates that the migration crisis
needs to be solved within EU politics. Yet, Germany also dealt with the problem
in its domestic policies with the Merkel government –though selective- in
favour of an open migration policy. Mixed with the generous welfare system of
Germany, the country certainly attracts migrants from all over the world
–whether they are economic migrants or others. Concepts like “solidarity,
responsibility, Willkommenskultur” can be seen and heard in daily life when
discussed how to handle the matter. This paper aims to analyse how Germany
positions itself within the negotiations in the EU concerning the migration
crisis and how it handles migration in its domestic policies. In this context,
priority will be given to the attitudes and publications of institutions
supporting the position of the Merkel government, and subjects on which the matter
is merely discussed.

Keywords

Syrian refugees, Germany, migration policy, labour market, integration

Suriye Krizinin Alman Siyaseti Üzerindeki Etkileri

Abstract

Göç, insanlık tarihi boyunca önemli bir mesele
olagelmişse de modern dönemde çok daha farklı biçimde ele alınmakta ve
tartışılmaktadır. Toplumsal yapıları etkilemekte ve bu bağlamda siyaset içinde
sert tartışmalara neden olmaktadır, zira tek bir kimliğe dayalı ulus
devletlerin hâkim olduğu bir dönemde göç, yerel kimliklere meydan okuyan bir
tehdit olarak algılanmaktadır. Bu gelişme, özellikle yüksek duvarlarla korunan
ülkelerdeki siyaset için de sonuçlar doğurmaktadır. Açık göç politikaları
yürüten ABD gibi ülkeler dahi günümüzde katı göç politikaları uygulamaktadır.
Ancak çeşitli siyasi ve ekonomik nedenlerle göçün devam edeceği açıktır ve bu
göçler büyük ölçüde Avrupa gibi daha müreffeh bölgelere yönelik olacaktır;
dolayısıyla, bu durumdan etkilenen ülkeler mevcut sorunlarla başa çıkmak için
siyaset üretmek zorundadırlar. Özellikle yaşanan Suriye krizi ve göçü hem
bölgede hem de Avrupa’da siyasette, ekonomide ve toplumsal hayatta tartışmalara
neden olmuştur; ki bu da AB’nin gündemine de yansımaktadır. Krizden doğrudan
etkilenen ülkelerden birisi şüphesiz Türkiye’dir ve bu durum AB müzakerelerinin
yenden görüşülmesine neden olmuş ve bütün anlaşmazlıklara rağmen AB ile
Türkiye’yi bir araya getirmiştir. Aynı zamanda, göç krizi ile ilgi tartışmalar
AB içinde de yoğunlaşmış ve Almanya’nın bu bağlamdaki konumu önem kazanmıştır
çünkü bir yandan AB içinde öncü bir rol oynarken öte yandan göç krizinin AB
siyaseti bağlamı içinde çözülmesi gerektiğini savunmuştur. Ayrıca Almanya, bu
meseleyi kendi içi işlerinde de ele almış ve Merkel hükümeti seçici de olsa
açık bir göç politikasını desteklemiştir. Refah devleti olması nedeniyle
dünyanın çeşitli yerlerinden göçmen çeken bir ülke olduğu açıktır. Bu konu
tartışıldığında “Dayanışma, sorumluluk ve Willkommenskultur” gibi kavramlar
günlük yaşamda duyulmakta ve görülmektedir. Bu makale, göç krizinde Almanya’nın
kendini nasıl konumlandırdığını ve iç politikalarında göçü ne şekilde ele
aldığını incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bu bağlamda Merkel hükümetini destekleyen
kurumlar ve yayınlara ve de konunun hangi çerçeve etrafında tartışıldığına
öncelik verilecektir.

Keywords

Almanya, göç politikası, iş piyasası, Suriyeli sığınmacılar, entegrasyon

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