Taking refuge in time, space and place: The case of Syrian refugees in Turkey

Abstract

This blog post explores the evolving relationship between Syrian refugees and their host communities within the physical and social space of Turkey, and within the context of Turkish history. Influencing these relationsare changes in the Turkish economy, historical changes in Turkey’s social and cultural structures, and the impact of Turkish immigration, employment, housing and other policies on perceptions of Syrian refugees. Thisblog is the first of two pieces by Selma Akay Erturk examining how economic, historical, and contextual circumstances influence multi-scalar responses to forced displacement from Syria in the case of Turkey: in this case, focusing on encounters in urban areas, and in the second piece, focusing on refugees residing in rural areas ofTurkey. If you find this piece of interest, please visit our recommended readings at the end of this piece.