Authors
Justyna Szałańska
SGH WARSAW SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, JSZALA@SGH.WAW.PL
ORCID: 0000-0001-9761-1307
- Volume 5 Issue (2) 2021
33-42
According to the last updated UNHCR data (as of November 2021), approximately 4 million refugees fled to Turkey, out of which 3.7 million are from Syria. Such a huge influx of people ethnically, culturally and linguistically different from the Turkish citizens can be considered either as a threat or as a challenge to national identity. Although the former view is more popular nowadays, I will focus on the second one in order to present beneficial influence of immigration on building a multicultural society. In this article will I discuss the situation of Syrian refugees in Turkey and try to answer the question how the influx of Syrian refugees has influenced the Turkish national identity. Article consists of three parts. The first one presents the Turkish identity in traditional and theoretical understanding. The second one depicts influx of Syrian refugees as
a factor that causes changes in social and state relations in Turkey. The third part discusses the already seen impact of Syrian immigration on Turkey’s identity and its possible developments. For the aim of outlining the possible developments the identity change category (Todd 1995; Friedman 1994) was used. In order to analyze the possibility of turning Turkey into a multicultural state, as the Ottoman Empire was considered in the past, the concept of multiculturalism (Kymlicka 1995; Taylor 1992) together with the comparative method were applied. The existing secondary data were analyzed for the purpose of presenting the situation of Syrian refugees in Turkey.
1924 Anayasasi (The Constitution 1924), https://www.tbmm.gov.tr/anayasa/anayasa24.htm [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
(EU-Turkey Statement) European Council. 2016. European Council Press Release: EU-Turkey Statement. 18 March 2016, available at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/18/eu-turkey-statement/ [accessed 12 November 2021]
The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey. 1982. http://global.tbmm.gov.tr/docs/constitution_en.pdf [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
Lausanne Peace Treaty, 24 July 1923, available at: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/treaty-with-turkey-and-other-instruments-signed-at-lausanne.en.mfa [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
Law of Foreigners and International Protection. 2014. http://www.goc.gov.tr/files/files/eng_minikanun_5_ son.pdf [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
UNHCR. 2021a. Refugee statistics. https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/ [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
UNHCR. 2021b. Syria Regional Refugee Response. http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
UNHCR. 2015. Turkey External Weekly Update. http://www.unhcr.org.tr/uploads/root/may_external_update_2015.pdf [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
UNICEF, www.unicef.org
Bianet. 2021. “Attacks on Syrian refugees' homes, shops continue in Turkey's capital on the second day”, 12 August 2021, https://m.bianet.org/english/migration/248616-attacks-on-syrian-refugees-homes-shops-continue-in-turkey-s-capital-on-the-second-day [accessed on: 12 November 2021]
Hurriyet Daily News. 2021. “UNICEF supports education of Syrian children in Turkey: says expert”, 16 March 2021, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/unicef-supports-education-of-syrian-children-in-turkey-says-expert-163162 [accessed on: 12 November 2021]
Reuters. 2019. Spicer Jonathan, “Turkish official says EU should boost funding of Syrian refugees”, 14 December 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-turkey-refugees-funds-idUSKBN1YI0D0 [accessed on: 12 November 2021]
The Times of Israel. 2015. “Erdogan: EU turning Mediterranean into migrant ‘cemetery’”, 3 September 2015, https://www.timesofisrael. com/erdogan-eu-turning-mediterranean-into-migrant-cemetery/ [accessed on: 12 November 2021].
Anderson B. 1983. Imagined communities. Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. London: Verso.
Bourdieu P. 1990. “Structures, habitus, practices”, in: The Logic of Practice. Cambridge: Polity.
Cagaptay S. 2006. Islam, Secularism and Nationalism in Modern Turkey. Who is Turk?, Abingdon: Routledge.
Cagaptay S. 2014. “The impact of Syria’s Refugees on Southern Turkey”. Policy Focus: 130.
Cagaptay S., Yalkin M. 2018. Syrian Refugees in Turkey. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/syrian-refugees-turkey [accessed on: 12 November 2021].
Citrin J., Sears D. O. 2009. “Balancing National and Ethnic Identities”, in: R. Abdelal, Y. M. Herrera, A.I. Johnson, R. McDermott (eds.), Measuring Identity. A Guide for Social Scientists, Cambridge 2009, 146-147.
Doganisik I. 2019. „Türkiye'de Suriyeli Sığınmacılar”, 24 June 2019, Dogruluk Payi, https://www.dogrulukpayi.com/bulten/turkiye-de-suriyeli-siginmacilar [accessed on: 12 November 2021].
Dogruel F. 2013. “An authentic experience of Multiculturalism at the Border City of Antakya”. Journal of Modern Turkish History Studies, Vol. XIII, No. 26.
Duvell F. 2013. Turkey, the Syrian Refugee Crisis and the Changing Dynamics of Transit Migration. IEMed Mediterranean Yearbook, Barcelona: European Institute of Mediterranean.
Eisenstadt Sh. N., Bernhard G. 1995. “The Construction of Collective Identity.” European Journal of Sociology / Archives Européennes de Sociologie / Europäisches Archiv Für Soziologie, Vol. 36, No. 1: 72–102.
Ferris E., Kirisci. K. 2015. What Turkey’s open-door policy means for Syrian refugees, Washington DC: Brookings Institution.
Friedmann J. 1994. Cultural Identity and Global Process. London: Sage Publications
Glogowska J. 2011. „Tożsamość turecka i tożsamość europejska – interpretacje”, in: Borkowski P., Gołembski F. (eds.) My i Oni. Problemy tożsamości w jednoczącej się Europie, Warszawa.
Inalcik H. 1994. An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire 1300-1914. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Jancewicz B. 2021. Syrians in Turkey – Experiences of migration and integration though a survey study (v.1), Global Migration: Consequences and Responses – Working Paper Series, Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4546663.
Kavas A., Kadkoy O. 2018. Syrians and Post-War Ghetto in Turkey. TEPAV: Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey. Evaluation Note N201824.
Kirisci K. 2013. Syrian Refugees and Turkey's Challenge: Going Beyond Hospitality. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.
Kirisci K. 1996. “Refugees of Turkish origin: coerced immigrant to Turkey since 1945”. International Migration, Vol. 34, No. 3.
Kirisci K. 1991. “Refugee Movements and Turkey”, International Migration, Vol. 29: 545-560.
Kirisci K. 2000. “Disaggregating Turkish citizenship and immigration practices”, Middle Eastern Studies, Vol. 36, No. 3: 1-22.
KONDA. 2006. Biz Kimiz? Toplumsal Yapı Araştırması.
Kymlicka W. 2007. Multicultural Odysseys: Navigating the New International Politics of Diversity. New York: Oxford University Press.
Kymlicka W. 1995. Multicultural citizenship: a liberal theory of minority rights. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Rottmann S. B. 2020. “Integration Policies, Practices and Experiences – Turkey Country Report (No. 2020/50)”, Global Migration: Consequences and Responses – RESPOND Working Paper Series. Özyegin University, Uppsala. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo. 3865824 [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
Sobczak-Szelc K., Szałańska J., Pachocka M. 2021. “The integration of asylum seekers and refugees in the field of education and the labour market – Comparative Thematic Report. Multilevel Governance of Mass Migration in Europe and Beyond Project (#770564, Horizon2020)”, Report Series. https://respondmigration.com/wp-blog/integration-of-asylum-seekers-refugees-in-the-field-of-education-and-labour-market-comparative-thematic-report [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
Smith A. D. 1991. National identity. Reno : University of Nevada Press.
Taylor Ch., Gutmann A. 1994. Multiculturalism. Examining the Politics of Recognition. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Todd J. 2005. “Social Transformation, collective categories and identity change”. Theory and Society, Vol. 34: 429–463.
White J. 2013. Muslim Nationalism and the New Turks. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
1924 Anayasasi (The Constitution 1924), https://www.tbmm.gov.tr/anayasa/anayasa24.htm [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
(EU-Turkey Statement) European Council. 2016. European Council Press Release: EU-Turkey Statement. 18 March 2016, available at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/03/18/eu-turkey-statement/ [accessed 12 November 2021]
The Constitution of the Republic of Turkey. 1982. http://global.tbmm.gov.tr/docs/constitution_en.pdf [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
Lausanne Peace Treaty, 24 July 1923, available at: https://www.mfa.gov.tr/treaty-with-turkey-and-other-instruments-signed-at-lausanne.en.mfa [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
Law of Foreigners and International Protection. 2014. http://www.goc.gov.tr/files/files/eng_minikanun_5_ son.pdf [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
UNHCR. 2021a. Refugee statistics. https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/ [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
UNHCR. 2021b. Syria Regional Refugee Response. http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/regional.php [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
UNHCR. 2015. Turkey External Weekly Update. http://www.unhcr.org.tr/uploads/root/may_external_update_2015.pdf [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
UNICEF, www.unicef.org
Bianet. 2021. “Attacks on Syrian refugees' homes, shops continue in Turkey's capital on the second day”, 12 August 2021, https://m.bianet.org/english/migration/248616-attacks-on-syrian-refugees-homes-shops-continue-in-turkey-s-capital-on-the-second-day [accessed on: 12 November 2021]
Hurriyet Daily News. 2021. “UNICEF supports education of Syrian children in Turkey: says expert”, 16 March 2021, https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/unicef-supports-education-of-syrian-children-in-turkey-says-expert-163162 [accessed on: 12 November 2021]
Reuters. 2019. Spicer Jonathan, “Turkish official says EU should boost funding of Syrian refugees”, 14 December 2019, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eu-turkey-refugees-funds-idUSKBN1YI0D0 [accessed on: 12 November 2021]
The Times of Israel. 2015. “Erdogan: EU turning Mediterranean into migrant ‘cemetery’”, 3 September 2015, https://www.timesofisrael. com/erdogan-eu-turning-mediterranean-into-migrant-cemetery/ [accessed on: 12 November 2021].
Anderson B. 1983. Imagined communities. Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism. London: Verso.
Bourdieu P. 1990. “Structures, habitus, practices”, in: The Logic of Practice. Cambridge: Polity.
Cagaptay S. 2006. Islam, Secularism and Nationalism in Modern Turkey. Who is Turk?, Abingdon: Routledge.
Cagaptay S. 2014. “The impact of Syria’s Refugees on Southern Turkey”. Policy Focus: 130.
Cagaptay S., Yalkin M. 2018. Syrian Refugees in Turkey. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/syrian-refugees-turkey [accessed on: 12 November 2021].
Citrin J., Sears D. O. 2009. “Balancing National and Ethnic Identities”, in: R. Abdelal, Y. M. Herrera, A.I. Johnson, R. McDermott (eds.), Measuring Identity. A Guide for Social Scientists, Cambridge 2009, 146-147.
Doganisik I. 2019. „Türkiye'de Suriyeli Sığınmacılar”, 24 June 2019, Dogruluk Payi, https://www.dogrulukpayi.com/bulten/turkiye-de-suriyeli-siginmacilar [accessed on: 12 November 2021].
Dogruel F. 2013. “An authentic experience of Multiculturalism at the Border City of Antakya”. Journal of Modern Turkish History Studies, Vol. XIII, No. 26.
Duvell F. 2013. Turkey, the Syrian Refugee Crisis and the Changing Dynamics of Transit Migration. IEMed Mediterranean Yearbook, Barcelona: European Institute of Mediterranean.
Eisenstadt Sh. N., Bernhard G. 1995. “The Construction of Collective Identity.” European Journal of Sociology / Archives Européennes de Sociologie / Europäisches Archiv Für Soziologie, Vol. 36, No. 1: 72–102.
Ferris E., Kirisci. K. 2015. What Turkey’s open-door policy means for Syrian refugees, Washington DC: Brookings Institution.
Friedmann J. 1994. Cultural Identity and Global Process. London: Sage Publications
Glogowska J. 2011. „Tożsamość turecka i tożsamość europejska – interpretacje”, in: Borkowski P., Gołembski F. (eds.) My i Oni. Problemy tożsamości w jednoczącej się Europie, Warszawa.
Inalcik H. 1994. An Economic and Social History of the Ottoman Empire 1300-1914. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Jancewicz B. 2021. Syrians in Turkey – Experiences of migration and integration though a survey study (v.1), Global Migration: Consequences and Responses – Working Paper Series, Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4546663.
Kavas A., Kadkoy O. 2018. Syrians and Post-War Ghetto in Turkey. TEPAV: Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey. Evaluation Note N201824.
Kirisci K. 2013. Syrian Refugees and Turkey's Challenge: Going Beyond Hospitality. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.
Kirisci K. 1996. “Refugees of Turkish origin: coerced immigrant to Turkey since 1945”. International Migration, Vol. 34, No. 3.
Kirisci K. 1991. “Refugee Movements and Turkey”, International Migration, Vol. 29: 545-560.
Kirisci K. 2000. “Disaggregating Turkish citizenship and immigration practices”, Middle Eastern Studies, Vol. 36, No. 3: 1-22.
KONDA. 2006. Biz Kimiz? Toplumsal Yapı Araştırması.
Kymlicka W. 2007. Multicultural Odysseys: Navigating the New International Politics of Diversity. New York: Oxford University Press.
Kymlicka W. 1995. Multicultural citizenship: a liberal theory of minority rights. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Rottmann S. B. 2020. “Integration Policies, Practices and Experiences – Turkey Country Report (No. 2020/50)”, Global Migration: Consequences and Responses – RESPOND Working Paper Series. Özyegin University, Uppsala. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo. 3865824 [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
Sobczak-Szelc K., Szałańska J., Pachocka M. 2021. “The integration of asylum seekers and refugees in the field of education and the labour market – Comparative Thematic Report. Multilevel Governance of Mass Migration in Europe and Beyond Project (#770564, Horizon2020)”, Report Series. https://respondmigration.com/wp-blog/integration-of-asylum-seekers-refugees-in-the-field-of-education-and-labour-market-comparative-thematic-report [accessed on: 3 November 2021].
Smith A. D. 1991. National identity. Reno : University of Nevada Press.
Taylor Ch., Gutmann A. 1994. Multiculturalism. Examining the Politics of Recognition. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Todd J. 2005. “Social Transformation, collective categories and identity change”. Theory and Society, Vol. 34: 429–463.
White J. 2013. Muslim Nationalism and the New Turks. Princeton: Princeton University Press.