Name: Sule Toktas
Section: Comparative Politics
Professional Email: sule@khas.edu.tr
Professional Status: Full Professor
Institution: Kadir Has University
Scheduling Preference: No Preference
Proposal Type: Paper
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Paper Title: NARRATIVES OF MIGRATION: A CASE STUDY ON TURKEY
Abstract:
Turkey, due to its changing status in international migratory movements in the past decades, has become both a country of transit for migration from the nearby geographies to Europe and a host country providing temporary protection for different immigrant groups. There are different types of migrants (irregular, illegal, student, refugee, etc.) and multi-layered push factors (economic, marriage/family unification, security, etc.). What’s more, a significant volume of foreign population has emerged in the country after the mass influx of asylum seekers and refugees since the Syrian Civil War. In due course of the diversification in migrants and migratory processes, there arose a multiplicity of discourses and narratives on and about international migration in the public sphere of Turkey. The migrants are represented as victims, criminals, threats to the national economy or opportunity for a higher hand in international negotiations. One might speak of free oscillation of discourse and narrative blocks related to migrants/asylum seekers/refugees which are at times complementary and generic but at other times decompositionary and straticulated. The presentation aims to portray the discourse and narrative blocks on and about international migration circulating in the public sphere of Turkey. In light of the relationship that the society builds with these discourse and narrative blocs, the presentation aims to discuss the sources and the contexts of the social and political ecosystem.