Transnational Voting behaviour: A Comparative Analysis of Turkish Communities in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom

This study comparatively examines the transnational voting behaviour of Turkish immigrants living abroad, focusing on case studies from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Based on qualitative data collected through 57 in-depth interviews, this analysis examines the Turkish immigrants’ external voting practices through the lenses of rational choice, party identification, and sociological approaches. The findings show that the voting practices of immigrants in the Netherlands are shaped primarily by two factors: (1) a socialization process centred around religious affiliations, and (2) support for a leader whose leadership is perceived as pivotal to enhancing Turkey’s international standing and, by extension, their own status in the Netherlands. In contrast, immigrants in the United Kingdom are more politically identity-oriented. Their voting choices are rooted in Kurdish-Alevi identity and are predominantly shaped by a defensive response to the current government. These dynamics give rise to distinct ideological tendencies: nationalist/conservative orientations in the Netherlands and leftist/democratic orientations in the United Kingdom. Overall, the findings reveal that voters often do not prioritize their individual interests; rather, collective identity and a sense of belonging play a decisive role in shaping their electoral preferences.