Understanding Social Cohesion from the Perspective of the Host Community: Turkey Example (original) (raw)
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GIZ PEP REPORT, 2022
Coordination among the very large number of actors implementing projects dedicated to or including activities for promoting social cohesion has become imperative in light of the findings from several national surveys that have shown an increase in social distance among the host community and the Syrian community, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, its negative impact on the economy and the social distancing measures taken against it. The GIZ SRHC cluster, under the initiative of its largest program (Promotion of Economic Prospects), aimed to support this coordination process with a series of structured roundtables with representatives from relevant stakeholders working in different sectors of the refugee response at both the national and local levels. The GIZ set out with the general objectives of creating a mutual understanding on the contours of social cohesion in different sectors of the refugee response by identifying common solutions to common problems faced by different types of implementing actors, and building a basis for future coordination and cooperation among all stakeholders. Towards this end, the topics of the roundtables were selected so as to ensure the representation of different sectors of the refugee response, the different types of actors involved as well as the different levels in which these actors operate in Turkey. Following a kick-off meeting, topics included the promotion of social cohesion: :: in the education and youth sector, :: in the livelihoods sector through the work of chambers of industry and commerce, :: in the protection sector through the work of civil society organizations, :: through the work of municipalities.
A FRAMEWORK FOR ACHIEVING SOCIAL COHESION WITH SYRIANS IN TURKEY
A FRAMEWORK FOR ACHIEVING SOCIAL COHESION WITH SYRIANS IN TURKEY, 2020
SYRIANS BAROMETER (SB) research is conceived of as a regularly held study to be simultaneously conducted on Syrians under temporary protection in Turkey, whose number has exceeded 3,5 million as of 31 December 2019, and the Turkish society. Structured as a continuation of two previous studies, “Syrians in Turkey: Social Acceptance and Integration” published in 2014 and “Syrians Barometer: A Framework for Achieving Social Cohesion with Syrians in Turkey” published in 2017; the study aims to measure and analyze the views, opinions, and attitudes of both Syrians in Turkey and the Turkish society. It is planned to repeat this study, which is the most comprehensive study on social cohesion in this field and the main objective of which is to provide a “a framework for achieving social cohesion with Syrians in Turkey”, once every year. SB research is expected both to provide reliable data on a regular basis to public institutions, researchers, academics, civil society organizations, international organizations, and other interested parties; and to serve as a resource for empirical data-based policies. SB attempts to remain outside of the political discussions as much as possible and to draw attention to the social reality between Syrians and the Turkish society. In addition, it aims to examine the mutual perceptions and, more importantly, to track, measure, and analyze the transformation/development in the perceptions. It is in this context that the experiences, foresights, expectations, anxieties, collaborations, and social cohesion processes are examined and analyzed, within the inevitable limitations of a social science research. Undoubtedly, the findings, which come from the comprehensive surveys and focus group meetings and which are used as the basis of analysis here, cannot be fully generalized. In other words, what is presented here as the views of the “Turkish society” or “Syrians in Turkey” are obviously the views of the participants of this research and can only be related to the wider populations in a limited manner. In the same way, neither the findings that are based on the empirical data nor the analysis and interpretation that are conducted based on these findings are or can be presented as “the truth”. One of the areas of integration discussions created by mass human mobilizations is related to the “public” sphere, in other words, to the state’s preferences, capacity and practices. But more important for the issue of integration is the societal sphere. Syrians Barometer study, by mainly focusing on the area of society, aims at investigating a social situation, making empirical observations, and providing a framework on “integration”. This study defines integration as “the way of life in which different communities, whether came together voluntarily or involuntarily, could live in peace and harmony on a common ground of belonging where pluralism is embraced in a framework of mutual acceptance and respect.” The study preferred to engage with the empirical findings of the field study and to underline the essential significance of perceptions and social acceptance for integration, instead of elaborating theoretical discussions on the issue. The surveys and focus group meetings of SB-2019 research were conducted in April-August 2019. In the face of dynamic nature of the process, during the course of time, there has been very significant developments concerning the subject matter of this study. However, the findings of the study naturally reflect and represent the context of the time that the data was collected.
PhD Thesis, 2021
This thesis presents a multidimensional analysis of intergroup relations and integration in the context of Syrian refugees in Turkey. Integration has been an important topic in migration studies and the existing research has focused mainly on the structural components and immigrants’, asylum seekers’ and refugees’ access to services and rights. The focus of research has often been on the Global North, especially Europe and North America. This thesis seeks to diversify and enhance our understanding in this field of study by looking at these issues in a Global South context. It goes beyond analysing just structural components and access to services and rights by presenting a multidimensional framework to study integration as a two-way process in which attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours of both refugees and local community members influence intergroup relations and integration. The thesis implements a mixed method design and systematically examines attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours based on the data collected from Syrian refugees, local community members, and staff members in national and international non-governmental organisations. By exploring and discussing the needs and expectations of both communities in three different settings (the provinces of Mardin, Hatay, and Bursa), this thesis investigates the factors and processes that impact intergroup contact; sociocultural diversity; and structural inequalities and deprivations. In explaining how these variables help with understanding the participants’ perceptions of intergroup relations and integration: The thesis makes evident that refugee participants have more positive perceptions of intergroup relations and integration than local community members; feel satisfied with being in and intend to stay in Turkey; expect the government to support refugees to achieve social cohesion; and identify being granted citizenship as a pathway to achieving equal rights. It was also found that participants from local communities tend to avoid both intergroup relations and communication; feel uncomfortable with Syrian refugees’ presence; object to refugees being granted citizenship and remaining in Turkey; yet expect the government to support Syrian refugees with social cohesion. Their ambiguous legal status; limited ability to engage in internal or cross-border mobility; challenges in accessing services and rights; and discrimination by local community members play a crucial role in the responses of refugee participants. Anti-egalitarian and anti-Syrian sentiments; perceived competition for resources; hierarchical and negative prejudices towards the Arab community, particularly Syrians; and perceived and experienced socioeconomic hardship are among the main reasons for the attitudes and perceptions of participants from local communities. Also, the comparison of local contexts in this research provided further evidence to support these findings and emphasises the importance of considering local dynamics in devising a more comprehensive analysis of intergroup relations and integration. Finally, the thesis offers the finding that, in the absence of previous conflicts, the factors of sociocultural similarities, kinship, and language contribute to integration and positive intergroup relations.
Syrian Forced Migration and Social Cohesion Process in Türkiye
Sosyolojik Bağlam Dergisi, 2023
This article aims to understand the challenges of war-persecuted asylum seekers accommodated in Türkiye. Firstly, the core purpose of the research is to understand the level of social cohesion of Syrian asylum seekers in Turkish society. Secondly, the study investigates ways Syrian culture could be welcomed into Turkish social life. Additionally, it investigates the contributions given by asylum seekers to Turkish society and the major barriers they face when working with the host society. Another major part of the study examines the extent to which the bureaucratic and political institutions of Türkiye support their social cohesion and subsistence. The study consists of a review of the relevant literature concerning Syrian asylum seekers. It is based on the conventions with Syrians living in Türkiye and input from many experts working on the issue. The major findings revolve around the socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic complexities that must be navigated as part of the social cohesion process between the Syrians and the Turkish host society.
Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, 2024
This study examines the widespread impact of Turkishness, a concept ingrained since the establishment of the Republic, on political and daily interactions, and how it cultivates persistent discrimination against Syrian refugees. This study conceptualizes Turkishness not as an ideology but as a construct influenced by national identity and historical developments. The study employs a qualitative methodology, including comprehensive interviews. The study involved 20 Syrian refugees and 21 local residents from various socioeconomic areas of Ankara. The results, derived from a restricted qualitative sample, provide insights into the influence of historical narratives and ethnic symbols on identity formation among Syrian refugees and local inhabitants. The study shows that nationalism and political ideologies have a significant impact on these encounters and class and demographic disparities exacerbate these dynamics. The interviews demonstrate that historical legacies, societal biases and experiences of exclusion significantly influence the identities of both refugees and the local population.
Determination of social exclusion among young syrian refugees living in turkey
Determination of social exclusion among young syrian refugees living in turkey, 2021
After the Syria Conflict in 2011, Turkey has accepted about four million Syrian refugees. Initially, they were seen as guests, but after eight years, the Turkish Government has spent more than forty billion USD, and the money that has been spent is seen as a burden by both the Government and the people. That’s why some Turkish people started using negative language against Syrian Refugees not only for economic reasons but also political. This study aims to understand the impact of young Syrian refugees’ social exclusion with temporary protection status on their daily lives. It is thought that the stigmatization and negative discourses by the Society in which they live leads to social exclusion, and this has a fundamental effect on daily life practices. In this study, it is understood that Syrian Youth sometimes face exclusion and negative discourses in their daily lives in family, friends, education, and other fields. According to their statements, these exclusion situations differ ...
Tension Between Neighbors: The Societal Adaptation Problems Between Turks and Syrian Asylum Seekers
İNSAMER, 2019
Serious incitement campaigns regarding the existence of Syrians in the country are carried out during all electoral periods in Turkey. Some repetitive cries for the deportation of refugees and fiery quarrels can be observed throughout social media platforms. Individual mistakes performed by Syrian individuals are instantly shared online, depicting those images and negative instances are done by all Syrians.
How to Co-exist? Urban Refugees in Turkey: Prospects and Challenges
Policy Brief, 1 (4), Yasar University UNESCO Chair on International Migration, 2018
Turkey currently hosts the largest refugee population in the world in which 3.5 million are registered Syrian refugees under temporary protection regime with access to certain welfare provisions living in the urban settings. While the level of absorbance of refugees in such mass scale into the society is high despite high public disfavour against Syrians' presence in the country, yet, this general reception of refugees leaves open space for better inclusion of refugees and to minimize public disapproval with certain policy guidelines. This policy brief reviews and assesses public tensions both at state and societal level based on the data from existing surveys and reports, and compares them with the data obtained from in-depth interviews with bureaucrats and Syrian refugees based on their experience in the urban space. The present paper focuses on three dimensions, which are found to be key elements in forming up the public disfavour: (1) perceived cultural and ethnic threat, (2) economic competition over resources and rights (3) ambiguous political agenda at state level. The brief concludes by providing key policy guidelines for state and civil society actors to better formulate mutual communication and understanding concerning future policies with the possibility of having a positive impact on lessening public tension with migrant communities.