Why do I care that the Greek economy is in crisis? Call me crazy, but I believe it can potentially heighten European xenophobia against Muslims, particularly Turks in Germany. And we don’t need any more anti-Muslim/anti-foreigner sentiments in Europe.
Greece is on the verge of bankruptcy. As a member of the European Union, and more importantly the “Euro zone” this has become a problem for the entire club. Many fear that it can drag Spain, Portugal and Italy in the crisis. That’s half the EU. No wonder German and French leaders are scrambling hard to figure out how to rescue Athens.
There is speculation that Berlin will have no choice but to bail out Athens. My question is: where does Berlin get the money? Where every other government gets money, the taxpayer. From the looks of it, Germans are not at all happy about this.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is resisting making any announcement about financial assistance. I fear she won’t be able to hold out any longer. And that makes me fear even more for the nearly two million Turks living in Germany. Like most minorities in any country, the Turks are the first to get blamed for Germany’s economic malaise. They’re accused of taking away jobs and burdening social services. If the German taxpayer feels they have to dole out even more in tight times in order to support “foreigners”, their patience for their country’s Turkish minority might further dissipate.
Is the Greek crisis the start of trouble for the Turks?
One Comment
Thank you for gathering everything and putting them all in a clear cut perspective, Elmira. Great summary of what’s going on in the EU nowadays and what these may result in.
Germany (and the EU) treated Turkish immigrants extremely poorly for generations and both sides are still suffering from it. As very well known, Turks saved German economy when it needed cheap labor that helped fuel German economic miracle after the WWII. Though this may be wishful thinking, I believe, seeing the results of their policies in the past towards Turks, German government would perceive the fact that it’d be a bigger mistake to blame the current economic conditions on the Turks and/or make them pay for it. It already is time to “integrate”, not discriminate further. I am hopeful because most of the Turks in Germany now are German citizens some of whom are born in Germany. But you never know with the EU politics, right?
Cheers,
Ozlem