Voting Behavior of the Turkish Community in Germany

This master thesis analyses the Turkish migration to Germany in the previous decades and its political consequences for Turkish elections. Specifically, it will focus on how the Justice and Development Party (AKP) is mobilizing the Turkish diaspora living in Germany. While religiousness and nationalism have been traditionally cited to explain AKP’s dominance abroad, these factors alone can not describe AKP’s dominance in Germany. In this thesis, I will argue that the success of AKP is not only a result of the pre-existing socio-economic conditions but rather an outcome of their policies towards the Turkish diaspora and their strategic exploitation of governmental and non-governmental institutions to mobilize voters living in Germany. The study delves into how the AKP government strategically utilizes both governmental and non-governmental institutions to effectively mobilize voters among the Turkish diaspora in Germany. It also sheds light on the party's implementation of pivotal policies, such as the simplification of overseas voting processes by removing barriers to voting abroad. Through a comprehensive analysis of these institutional and policy strategies, this thesis aims to provide a deeper understanding of the AKP's exceptional performance among Turkish voters in Germany. By doing so, it contributes to the broader discourse on voting behavior and its implications for both Turkey and the German host society.