Turkey demands opening of Turkish-language schools in Germany
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly proposed the idea of creating Turkish-language schools in Germany. He first voiced it in 2008, speaking before members of the Turkish community in Cologne. The prime minister even expressed readiness to send Turkish teachers to Germany.
The initiative did not gain much understanding and remained without consequences. But Erdogan did not forget about it and returned to the issue in an interview with the authoritative German publication Zeit on the eve of Angela Merkel's visit to Turkey. He explained his persistence as paternal concern for the nearly 3 million people of Turkish origin, who form the largest diaspora in Germany.
Erdogan's logic is simple: since there are German schools in Turkey where instruction is in German, there should be Turkish schools in Germany where instruction is in Turkish. Erdogan justified his demand by the language difficulties faced by Turks living in Germany, implying that the German authorities share responsibility. "Here in Germany, they haven't quite grasped the spirit of our times. First and foremost, a person should have a good command of their native language, that is, Turkish, but unfortunately this is happening less and less," Erdogan concluded.
The Turkish prime minister's proposal drew sharp rebukes from German politicians – both from ruling parties and the opposition, showing rare unanimity on this issue. Without listing the names of politicians and public figures, including those of Turkish origin, suffice it to say that their arguments boil down to one: the appearance of Turkish-language schools in Germany would hinder the integration of people of Turkish origin into German society. Instead of integration, it would lead to isolation and complicate the already difficult situation of migrants. Angela Merkel stated that she sees no point in Erdogan's proposal.
It would seem all too clear, but not for the Turkish prime minister, who in his youth praised minarets in poems, likening them to soldiers' bayonets. Erdogan escalated: literally a day before the scheduled March 29 visit of the German chancellor to Ankara, while in Libya, he told journalists that Merkel obviously just hates Turkey, since she refuses to open Turkish schools in Germany. The story was actively discussed in Turkish media, which noted that the scandal threatened to seriously complicate the upcoming talks. The atmosphere was indeed unhealthy.
Meanwhile, during her two-day visit, Merkel planned to discuss far more important issues than this school nonsense: further ways of rapprochement between Ankara and Brussels, alternatives to Turkey's accession to the European Union, the situation in the Middle East in light of events in Iran and Israel, resolution of the Turkey-Cyprus conflict, Turkey's recognition of the Armenian genocide, and reconciliation between Armenians and Turks. In addition, the visit was to discuss the opening of a German-Turkish university in Istanbul. Perhaps that is why Merkel, in her characteristic manner, tried to smooth over the rough edges upon arriving in Ankara. After talks with Erdogan, the chancellor stated that she agreed with the proposal to open Turkish schools in Germany.
"Since Germany has its own schools in other countries, it is only natural that Turkey can have its own schools in Germany," Merkel noted, but hastened to add that this should by no means become an excuse for students of Turkish origin who do not want to learn German. Merkel once again emphasized that a person cannot live in Germany without the German language. Overall, in the chancellor's view, in the case of Turkish schools, the outcome of education should be bilingualism. Finally, the chancellor allayed the Turkish prime minister's concerns, saying that there is no talk of the assimilation of Turks in Germany that worries him, but only of integration.
So did Erdogan get his way? Rather not. Outshouting Frau Merkel is much easier than making her do something. The recent example of the dispute within the EU over financial aid to Greece, which was on the verge of default, showed this perfectly. For her tough stance on this issue, Merkel earned in the media a very flattering comparison to the "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher and a perhaps not entirely flattering but no less significant comparison to the "Iron Chancellor" Otto von Bismarck. If she does introduce Turkish schools in Germany, it will be in a completely different form, because in its current form Erdogan's idea is unfeasible, and even if feasible, it is harmful.
First of all, the Turkish prime minister's arguments themselves – since there are German schools in Turkey, there should be Turkish ones in Germany – are pure demagoguery and do not stand up to any criticism. Yes, there are German schools in Turkey, but as Hessian Integration Commissioner Jörg-Uwe Hahn noted, German schools in Turkey are intended primarily for the children of diplomats who are only temporarily in the country. In the case of hypothetical Turkish schools in Germany, everything would be exactly the opposite: schools are intended for people of Turkish origin who, however, are in no hurry to return to their homeland and intend to build their lives in Germany.
Psychologist Lale Akgün, a representative of the German Social Democrats who herself grew up in a family of Turkish origin, stated that creating Turkish schools would be a dead end for children. Akgün acknowledged that there are German schools in Turkey, but noted that they are attended only by a very narrow layer of children of the Turkish elite, who intend to acquire a second or even third foreign language in this way. Turkish schools in Germany will never be elite. Moreover, Akgün believes that graduates of such schools will not be able to enroll in either German or even Turkish universities.
Erdogan's assertion that Turkish children in Germany should first and foremost know their native language is also untenable, according to Lale Akgün. First of all, because in the case of third- or fourth-generation immigrants, it is generally difficult to determine which language is native to them. Moreover, attending Turkish schools will inevitably lead Turkish children to isolation, because communication with peers occurs mainly at school, and in this case it will be conducted not in German but in Turkish. As a result, living in Germany in isolation, they will be deprived of the opportunity to benefit from the advantages of their place of residence.
Overall, Recep Tayyip Erdogan's initiative has rather political and ideological justifications, but is not motivated by concern for people of Turkish origin. The Turkish prime minister intends to use future Turkish schools in Germany and their students as a kind of springboard, by occupying which, it will be possible to 'pull' Turkey into the EU. It is not surprising that along with the proposal to establish Turkish schools in Germany, Erdogan insists on introducing dual German-Turkish citizenship and opposes the requirement that Turks give up their Turkish passport when acquiring German citizenship, as stipulated by German law.
In principle, the Turkish prime minister is doing everything to emphasize and preserve for as long as possible the 'Turkishness' of Turks living in Germany and to prevent what he calls assimilation. Erdogan does not need German Turks, but rather Turks in Germany as a precondition and incentive for Turkey’s accession to the EU. All his concern about the education of Turks living in Germany is transparently flimsy, if only because in Turkey itself, according to some data, 50% of women cannot read or write, not to mention the Kurds, who have no schools of their own at all. It is just unclear why Erdogan decided that the Turkish diaspora in Germany would serve as a political tool of Ankara to the detriment of its own interests.
Noteworthy in this regard is an interview that German politician of Turkish origin, CDU member Bülent Arslan, gave to radio Deutschlandfunk. 'It is quite natural that it is in Erdogan’s interest to maintain as long as possible the political and emotional attachment of Turks living in Germany to Turkey,' Arslan said. 'From his point of view, that is perfectly normal. Only we, as Turks and Germans living in Germany, should have other interests. For us, it is more important to maintain and strengthen our connection with Germany.' On the issue of schools, Bülent Arslan added: 'We need more successful Turkish students in German schools, not Turkish schools.' Recep Tayyip Erdogan should listen.
Alexey Demyanov.
Lenta.ru