Previous studies on migrant organisations in the Netherlands have focused on whether they help migrants integrate into Dutch society. No systematic research, however, has been done on their ties to homeland organisations or states. This chapter aims to fill this gap. It analyses the transnational ties of Surinamese and Turkish (including Kurdish) organisational networks in the Netherlands over the periods 2001-2005 and 1999-2005, respectively, and the activities channelled through these ties. It further examines how migrant civil societies and political opportunity structures in both home and host countries – as well as diplomatic relations between them – influenced these ties.

Fennema and Tillie (1999) have argued that strong and dense organisational networks foster migrant political participation in countries of residence. This chapter asks how the strength and density of organisational networks influence transnational political participation. Are some migrant groups weakly organised because they direct their efforts at maintaining ties with the homeland? Or do strong organisational networks in the country of residence facilitate both transnational and domestic political participation?

To answer these questions, I begin with the findings of an analysis of migrant networks conducted by the Institute for Migration and Ethnic Studies (IMES) at the University of Amsterdam (Fennema & Tillie 1999; Van Heelsum et al. 1999; Van Heelsum & Voorthuysen 2002). I then turn to the transnational ties and activities of Surinamese and Turkish organisations in the Netherlands.

Civil society, networks and political participation

Inspired by Putnam (1993), Fennema and Tillie (1999, 2001) claim that when migrant organisations are in greater contact with each other, social trust spreads within the migrant group. This results in a community with more collective social capital – an organisational network made up of trust relations. For migrants in Amsterdam, Fennema, Tillie, Van Heelsum, Berger and Wolff (2000) postulate that networks based on interlocking directorates increase the exchange of information while limiting free riding. Their studies found Amsterdam's Turks – who have a higher turnout rate in municipal elections and more elected city councillors – to be organised in denser networks than Surinamese (the pattern holds nationally as well). Stronger networks create more social trust and social capital; social trust and willingness to cooperate increase political participation (Fennema et al. 2000: 15-16).