Turkish Associations in Metropolitan Stockholm: Organizational Differentiation and Socio-Political Participation of Turkish Immigrants

Since 1970s when multiculturalism was accepted as the official integration policy, Sweden encourages immigrants to organize themselves along ethnic lines and ethnic migrant organizations are considered as one of the channels for immigrants’ social and political participation to the Swedish society. Today Turks are among those immigration groups in Sweden with the widest network of association, with regard to quantitative indicators such as the number of associations and members. This study aims to explore the general characteristics of the Turkish migrant associations in Stockholm and associational differentiation process which continues since the beginning of 1990s. Through these two main lines, we also aim to find out to what extent national and local Turkish associations function as the channels of political and social participation for Turkish migrants. The results of the study reveal that national federations (including also that of women and youth) are close to act as a spokesman or a pressure group for their constituency, however, local associations do not assume a particular role in the social and political participation of Turkish migrants. Yet, as a whole, they face serious problems such as financial difficulties and the absence of active members. Moreover, it is also emphasized in the study that, in explaining these problems and the decline of associational activities among migrants, special attention is also to be given to the Swedish state, which has always assumed an active role in the development of migrant associations in Sweden through certain mechanisms.