Özet:

The aim of this paper is to provide an answer to the question "are Circassians a diasporic group or not?” To do so, the following two approaches were used: (i)-The concept of "reinvention of tradition" for Circassians was considered in the form of three waves, corresponding to three significant stages in the history of Circassians' migration. (ii)-While examining Circassian identity; both the idea of uniqueness of the Circassians and the similarities approach among the groups in Turkey and the world was used. To discuss the definitions of diaspora, German sociologist Robert Hettlage's classification was preferred. The situation of Circassians was evaluated for each kind of definition in Hettlage's classification. Circassians in Turkey have a diasporic identity in almost every aspect of the diasporas' definitions. Being a diasporic community has both some advantages and disadvantages. Circassians have the potential to gain socio-cultural and socio-economic advantages for themselves, for Turkey, and for the North Caucasus where they are defining as their motherland. As a result, Circassian diasporic community has ability to communicate between their "root country" and “the host country where they are currently living. This article shows that Circassians in Turkey, undoubtedly have that potential. Although they have this potential, it does not guarantee the potential to reveal. Revealing the potential will depend on whether the three parties (the host country, the root country and the diasporic community) will cooperate or not.