Turkish Migration Policy from the 1960s Until Today: What National Development Plans Tell Us

Abstract

This paper is on migration and migration policy transition of Turkey. The focus is on the Turkish National Development Plans from the 1960s until today and the socio-political and economic context. We identify three distinct periods. The first period of the 1960s is characterized by an explicit support of out-migration to reduce population pressure and on remittances to promote economic growth. The second period from the 1970s to 2000 is marked by diaspora policies of Turkey relative to Europe, thereby acknowledging the role of the Turkish diaspora in the promotion of Turkish economic development and international relations. Since the year of 2000, Turkish migration policy turned to the promotion of highly skilled immigration, aiming at the promotion of technological progress towards a knowledge society with the support of intellectual elites. The policy transition towards the promotion of highly skilled immigration goes hand in hand with institutional and legal changes, which we specify.

Application of a breakpoint model to population growth in Türkiye

“…As stated by these scholars, the fertility transition in Türkiye has mainly carried on as a result of socioeconomic developments and the society's transformation. In addition, education reforms became a national objective for Türkiye, increasing mandatory education from 5 to 8 years in 1997 to improve the levels of educational attainment of the native workforce (Kilic and Biffi, 2021). Furthermore, although Türkiye has gone through major socioeconomic transformation, Yüceşahin, Adalı, and Türkyılmaz (2016) emphasize that Turkish society has still preserved its patriarchal foundation, as it is the case with many developing countries.…”

“…The strongest negative effect of the net migration on POPG in Türkiye was noticed during the first regime (1965 -1975) mostly as a result of migration of a large number of Turks mostly to Germany first as guest workers and later as immigrant workers. During 1963During -1978, Türkiye was involved in labor recruitment agreements with many European countries (Kilic and Biffi, 2021). Controlled emigration to European countries was officially organized by the Turkish employment agency in collaboration with the public employment agencies of countries with whom Türkiye stipulated into bilateral labor recruitment agreements.…”

“…Controlled emigration to European countries was officially organized by the Turkish employment agency in collaboration with the public employment agencies of countries with whom Türkiye stipulated into bilateral labor recruitment agreements. The first great and important bilateral labor agreement was with Germany in 1961, and then followed with Austria, the Netherlands, and Belgium in 1964, France 1965, and Sweden and Australia in 1967(Kilic and Biffi, 2021. In addition, the rapid development of rich countries with oil in the Middle East-North Africa region attracted Türkiye by an agreement with Libya in 1975.…”

“…At this time, the main characteristics for Türkiye were the lack of political stability and not solved economic, social issues, and a lot of poverty. Türkiye agreed the policy to send unskilled labor for at least two reasons: To lessen unemployment as well as to receive remittances from the migrants and consequently lost more skilled workers in the emigration process than any other Mediterranean countries (Kilic and Biffi, 2021). The positive net migration effect on POPG from 1976 to 1983 onward may be due to the restriction of immigration policies in many European countries that started during 1975-1980(Ergöçmen and Özdemir, 2005.…”

“…The effect of changes in NMR on POPG during this regime (1984 -2003) was slightly positive but statistically insignificant. The intensity of diaspora policies and the positive economic development of Türkiye from the 1980s onward, which was driven by enlarged trade with Europe, foreign investment, and privatization, have increased the process of industrialization of the Turkish economy (Kilic and Biffi, 2021). According to these authors, Türkiye experienced a persistent brain drain during this period not as the result of foreign worker recruitment by the prime European destination countries, but much rather a result of family reunion, but to a certain extent also to the political instability in Türkiye.…”