Periods of Turkish Migration in the Czech Republic: A Diachronic Perspective on the Turkish Community

This study examines the historical development of Turkish migration to Czechia through a diachronic perspective, identifying three main phases: the period of entrepreneurial pioneers (1989–2004), the period of transition and transformation (2004–2016), and the period of community formation shaped by highly skilled migration and labor mobility (2016–2024). The study employs qualitative research methods, including in-depth interviews, participant observation, digital ethnography, and thematic analysis. The phenomenon of migration is shaped not only by economic factors but also by cultural ties, individual preferences, and collective memory. During this process, which marks the evolution of migration from a community-based phenomenon to a diasporic formation, spatial concentration has been observed in cities such as Prague and Brno. Moreover, the recent increase in highly skilled migrants has significantly transformed the socio-demographic profile of the Turkish community in Czechia. The study reveals that migration between Türkiye and Czechia has transcended the patterns of classical labor migration, taking on a multi-layered and hybrid structure.