The political representation of immigrant associations is central for immigrants to become political actors in Germany. I offer a comparative analysis of two Turkish immigrant associations to point to the diverse approaches in terms of immigrant incorporation and citizenship rights. By illustrating these associations’ views on incorporation/assimilation, nationalism/ethnicity, secularism/Islam and their relations with the mainstream German political parties, I attempt to show that immigrants are not victims of the political decisions of the German state. On the contrary, Turkish immigrant elites become important political actors to negotiate rights and memberships in the name of this ethno-national group. In conclusion, I suggest an approach that recognises the agency of the immigrants in the socio-political discourse and also in the governing process.
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Gökçe Yurdakul (2006) studied this question.