Transnational virtues and cool loyalties: Responses of Turkish-speaking migrants in London to September 11

Abstract

This article examines the responses of Turkish-speaking migrants in London to the events surrounding September 11. I argue that they have developed a 'transnational sensibility' which was rendered problematic when political leaders demanded loyalty to 'us' and opposition to 'them' A transnational sensibility defies the logics and loyalties of modern political systems. The limits of multicultural tolerance are reached: transnational identities and the transnational television channels that cater for this diverse Turkish-speaking audience were deemed threatening to social order. Facing this sense of displacement, the study shows how Turkish-speaking migrants were forced to think intensively about their situation. This process entailed active news consumption as migrants sought reliable information. But such varied consumption led to growing scepticism towards all media. The article concludes by considering the different modes of thinking available to migrants with a transnational sensibility, and argues that dialogue between dogmatic thinking based on experience and open, flexible thinking can enable migrants to reach a pragmatic, tactical approach to loyalty and identity.