The Role of Small-Scale Entrepreneurs in Shaping the Turkish Community in Post-1989 Czechia

Abstract

Following the Velvet Revolution of 1989, Czechia’s transition to a market economy created new opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs, attracting a small but significant group of Turkish smallscale entrepreneurs and migrants. While most Turkish entrepreneurs in the post-communist era concentrated on culturally and geographically closer regions to Turkey, some chose to settle in Czechia during the 1990s, establishing businesses in sectors such as textiles, furniture, tourism, and souvenirs. This study examines the role of early entrepreneurs and migrants in shaping the Turkish community in the Czech Republic, analyzing how their experiences reflected and contributed to the country’s broader socio-economic transformation. Although the Turkish population remained small, these early actors laid important foundations for subsequent migration flows, particularly after 2010. Their initial success was facilitated by low competition and regulatory flexibility, yet the increasing institutionalization of the market in later years introduced new challenges. Despite these shifts, their local expertise and symbolic capital continue to influence the structure and public perception of the Turkish community. Methodologically, the study is based on qualitative research, drawing on semi-structured interviews with Turkish migrants to analyze their entrepreneurial experiences and community dynamics. By focusing on this group, the study contributes to the literature on new migration destinations, underscoring the long-term significance of small-scale Turkish entrepreneurship and migration in post-1989 Czechia.

DOI: 10.14712/23363231.2026.7