Editor's note.

• Author: Ataman, Muhittin
• Position: German-Turkish relations - Essay

Germany, who challenged the British and its allies twice in the first half of the 20th century, began to reemerge as a global political power and to play the "big game" in the wake of the Cold War. As the strongest economy and the most crowded country in the European Union (EU), Germany has decided to lead the EU institutions and the old continent in global platforms. Especially after the reunification of the country, Germany started to dominate European politics. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of Cold War politics, Germany prompted the European countries to pursue a more independent foreign policy. Getting rid of the Soviet threat, Germany no longer needs NATO and the U.S. protection. As a result we see a Germany which has initiated a multidimensional and multilateral foreign policy orientation in order to improve its worldwide national interests.

As a latecomer to the Middle Eastern game, Germany struggles to benefit from a possible regional reshuffle. Therefore, it prefers to collaborate with regional revisionist political actors such as the Kurds and to challenge any actor that strives for the regional order and stability such as Turkey.

Germany and Turkey compete and even quarrel in many issues; nevertheless, both countries are interdependent and need to cooperate in several areas. Citizens with a Turkish origin or background living in Germany compose a considerable part of the German population and this should be the first area of collaboration between the two states. Since the recruitment agreement in October 1961, Germany developed a different relationship with Turkey and any significant development in one country began to influence not only foreign policy but also the domestic politics of the other state. With time, the citizens with Turkish origin living in Germany have become the source of different developments--both positive and negative-between the two states.

Recently the citizens with Turkish origin living in Germany have been considered as a cause of tension by far-right wing political parties. Moreover, Germany does not permit them (with very few exceptions) to have a dual citizenship, which can be considered as a double standard, if one compares it with countries, which already have the permission for a dual citizenship. The citizens with Turkish origin living in Germany are by now in the 4th generation and their situation leaves a lot to be desired which reflects the value that Germany gives to Turkey.

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