The Role of Cultural Heritage in the Creation of a Sense of Belonging among Young Norwegian Turks: Boundary Making and Crossing

Abstract

This paper discusses the importance that cultural heritage has for Norwegians of Turkish decent when it comes to negotiating both their belonging and the concept of home. The role of heritage in making and crossing the boundaries of ethnicity is also discussed here. I argue that Norwegian Turks have developed a multi-layered sense of belonging based on the identification with groups and places located both in Turkey and in Norway. They participate in Norwegian society while identifying themselves as Turks and negotiations of cultural heritage contribute to the preservation of consistent image of themselves as they adopt common Norwegian lifestyles.