ABSTRACT
Introduction The diverse historical, political and economic linkages between home in Turkey and host countries in Europe reveal the multidimensional characteristics of Alevi migration. Variables such as the ethnic, religious, cultural or ideological ties between the country of residence (receiving) and the country of origin (sending) need to be investigated (Brettell and Hollifield 2000). There have been recent attempts to fill the gap between micro and macro analyses by using the lens of transnationalism to achieve a new understanding in migration studies. The increasing mobility of immigrants between home and host countries has provided an expanding space in which transnational communities express political and economic participation. Transnational networks have increasingly appeared as a crucial means of negotiating claimed and represented identity. On the one hand, transnational identity symbolically assists immigrants in transcending the limitations and sense of oppression with reference to the systems of values and norms in the country of settlement. On the other hand, the transnational networks and practices across the borders, by the scale of migration flows, have mobilised the organised immigrant’s community. The improvement of transnational networks has influenced diasporic relations and organizations by enabling the rapid transfer of information, capital, goods and services. Current migration has taken form in the diasporic communities through transnational practices and networks. The processes and implications of migration are not solely determined by economic forces. Transnational immigrants have gained in power on different levels (economic, political, social and cultural) by means of enhanced communication and transportation technologies.
