Between neo-Ottomanist kin policy in the Balkans and Transnational Kin Economics in the EU
Publisher: Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe Volume: 26 pages, pdf Description: During the last century Turkey`s kin politics in the Balkans have undergone a transition from ethnic nationalist politics to neo-Ottomanist cultural economics. After a short overview of the historical development of Turkish kin politics in the Balkans, this article investigates the contemporary institutional and discursive novelties and challenges on the agenda of Turkey’s kin policy, and its institutional and discursive transition from ethnic nationalist kin policy in the Balkans towards transnational economic and religious strategy prioritizing `Turks abroad` in the EU. The study is based on local investigations and interviews in Macedonia, Albania and Bulgaria, as well as content analysis of official documents and articulations of decision making institutions such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Parliament, The Agency of Turks and Kin Abroad, Yunus Emre Institutes, TIKA, Diyanet, and migrant associations.