Cosmopolitan Anxieties: Turkish Challenges to Citizenship and Belonging in Germany Book

Ruth Mandel's analysis of Germany's so-called Ausländerproblematik is enlightening and nuanced. First deconstructing the rhetoric behind German conceptions of Turks (as well as the so-called Deutschtürken), Mandel then continues to provide analysis of the constructions of identity among all parties. Included in her book is a significant reflection on historical events, all leading up to a summary of current identity politics. Perhaps the most valuable information included are Mandel's lengthy, often anecdotal observations of minority groups within the Turkish diaspora, particularly relating to Alevis. This was the first text that I have read in my study of the Turkish diaspora of Germany, and it has provided numerous, useful terms present in both Turkish and German discourses. Mandel certainly maintains a critical view on German policies regarding foreigners, however these views are pervasively and persuasively founded in a level-headed dialog. In all, Mandel's book seems to me to be the best starting point for an engaging and multifaceted study of identity politics and the Turkish diaspora in Germany.