AQCI III
European Policy and Practice toward Ethnic Minorities
November 4th, 2015
Marie Helen Ferdelman
Kaya, A. (2012). Transnational Citizenship: German-Turks and liberalizing citizenship regimes. Citizenship Studies 16
(2), 153-172.
The Press and Information Office of the Federal Government (2015). New rules on citizenship. Retrieved on
03.11.2015 from https://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/EN/Artikel/2014/04/2014-04-07staatsangehoerigkeit_en.html
1. Central Quotation. ‘The habitats of meaning of German-Turkish transmigrants are shaped by
social, cultural, economic and political imperatives of both countries in a way that equips them with
a rather more vibrant set of identities: more cosmopolitan, more syncretic and more transnational.
The formation of such a transnational space should be complemented by adequate reforms in the
citizenship regimes of both sending and receiving countries […]’ (Kaya, 2012)
2. Argument. Kaya argues that migrants today are able to maintain contact with their home
countries and their networks there while at the same time being able to integrate in a new society,
which he calls transnationalism. German-Turks fit into this pattern as they retain strong linkages
with their country of origin but at same time are part of German society. Germany has been
reluctant to grant citizenship to non-EU citizens but some steps toward liberalization have been
made in the past years. However, dual citizenship has not been made legal. Kaya holds that both
Turkey and Germany should make it easier for their citizens to acquire dual citizenship to prevent a
parallel society of Turkish citizens without political rights forming in Germany.
3. Question. Kaya points out that Turkey as well as Germany has to facilitate having dual
citizenship for its citizens. However, Turkey’s legislation already allows dual citizenship. So what
are the steps that Kaya would like the Turkish government to take in this policy area?
4. Experiential Connection. I have dual citizenship myself and my father has been living in
Germany for over twenty years but is not a German citizen, so the topic of citizenship and
particularly dual citizenship is very salient for me personally. Although with the current legislation I
can keep my dual citizenship status, I am aware that there are a number of groups living in
Germany that are excluded from political participation and are for instance not even able to vote in
regional elections because they are unwilling to give up the citizenship of their home country and
are not allowed dual citizenship. Granting these people dual citizenship would allow them integrate
more easily into German society without forcing them to sever their bonds to their home country to
which they may still have close emotional ties.
5. Textual connection. Since 2012, when Kaya wrote his article, there has been a change in
German legislation on dual citizenship. Children who received German citizenship through jus soli
do not have to decide which citizenship to keep after their 22nd birthday anymore. This so-called
‘Optionspflicht’ has been abolished (Federal Government, 2015). This shows that Germany is
starting to recognize that a liberalization of citizenship is necessary for successful integration of
migrants and their children as Kaya pointed out in his article.
6. Implications. Kaya is in favour of liberalizing the access to dual citizenship for Turks living in
Germany, which included the abolishment of the ‘Optionspflicht’. This has happened since the
writing of his article but those migrants who are not born in Germany are still not able to hold a
German and a second passport. According to Kaya’s reasoning this is another step that has to be
taken to make integration for migrants easier.
AQCI ASSESSMENT FORM
Student’s
name:
Marie Helen Ferdelman
Name of
assessor:
Date:
Essay title:
Excel
lent
1) Is the chosen quotation central to the
author’s argument?
Go
od
Aver
age
x
X
2) Has the main argument been fully
understood (including its ‘for’ and
‘against’ sides, if applicable)?
X
3a) Is the question raised
important/relevant/interesting?
3b) Has this question not been fully
answered in the text?
X
X
4) Is the experiential connection
relevant/interesting?
X
5a) Is the textual connection
relevant/interesting?
5b) Has it been cited properly?
5c) Has it been adequately explained
how the present text's argument
contrasts with, contradicts, confirms,
clarifies, or elaborates the other text's
argument or point?
X
X
X
6) Have the implications been well
understood, can they have a practical
impact for policy making?
7) Expression/Presentation
a) Are the style, grammar and general
use of English adequate?
b) Is the AQCI professionally presented?
Essay grade:
Further comments:
X
X
Po
or
Not
accept
able
Comments
04.11.2015