Democratic Backsliding and the Politics of Exit: Highly Skilled Migration From Turkey to the Netherlands
2026-07-08
This paper examines highly skilled migration from Turkey to the Netherlands in the aftermath of the 2016 coup attempt, focusing on how democratic backsliding shapes migration decisions. Drawing on 37 in‐depth interviews with academics, health professionals and engineers, the study explores how political pressures, shrinking freedoms and rising conservatism affect individuals' professional autonomy, social relationships, and everyday lives. The findings reveal five key drivers of migration: restrictions on basic democratic rights, erosion of legal protection, marginalization of secular lifestyles, conservative shifts in education and gender‐based insecurity. While earlier research acknowledged political factors in recent emigration from Turkey, this study shows how the repressive political climate permeates intimate domains, undermining trust, belonging and safety and thus motivates exit. By reframing highly skilled migration as a response to political and social ruptures rather than solely an economic or professional choice, the paper contributes to migration and political sociology and calls for more comparative, interdisciplinary research on politically driven migration under authoritarian regimes.