Rewriting National Narratives through the Study of Past Migrations: Turkey’s History of Migrations

This article explores the roles played by the memory of past migrations in the construction of national identity. National narratives tend to include and exclude certain migration experiences. Looking at historical evidence and alternative narratives of past migrations can help redefining a more inclusive national identity. Using the case of Turkey, the article identifies the migrations absent from the official narrative: migrations to Anatolia before 1071 CE (the arrival of Turkic tribes) and forced migrations during the Ottoman and Republican periods. Rehabilitating these migratory experiences leads to the recognition of both a glorious and violent past, and can help bringing together Turkey’s diverse identities.