Emplacement process of Syrians: The case of Altındağ, Ankara

Date

2024-1-19

Author

Karagöz, Damla

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The outbreak of the Syrian war in 2011 resulted in millions of people being forced to leave their countries, leading to Türkiye facing its most significant migration movement in its history. The perception that the migration of Syrians would be temporary led to the absence of any residence policy, causing approximately 98% of Syrians to disperse across all regions of Türkiye, living together with the Turkish community through self-settlement. However, self-settled Syrians face numerous physical, psychological, economic, and socio-cultural challenges, including exclusion, discrimination, everyday fear and anxiety, the inability to meet basic needs, urban poverty, and conflict, often leading to a life deprived of fundamental human rights. Despite numerous academic researches and studies focusing on Syrians displaced by forced migration, there is an observed lack of emphasis on the spatial dimension in migration studies and deficiencies in examining Syrians' spatial practices and emplacement process in urban studies through rights-based approaches. The primary aim of this research is to analyze the emplacement processes of Syrians from accessing urban services to their active participation in urban decision-making processes, through rights-based approaches to 'spatial dimensions and practices' at various scales. Within this scope, the emplacement processes of Syrians, spatially concentrated and segregated in Ankara's Altındağ district, especially in the Ulubey, Önder, and Battalgazi neighborhoods, have been investigated. Furthermore, the research seeks to adopt a comprehensive and holistic approach by incorporating various local actors, including municipalities, NGOs, and the local community. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach was employed, with the quantitative component consisting of surveys conducted with 170 Syrians residing in Altındağ using a questionnaire forms. For the qualitative component, 22 semi-structured interviews were conducted with Syrians, and 28 in-depth interviews with local actors, culminating in a total of 50 in-depth interviews and participant observations. Lastly, as part of the document analysis, the planning history of the region through urban development plans, and urban transformation projects were investigated, making this an interdisciplinary study. The research findings have concluded that the processes of emplacement and production of space are dynamic and transformative, contingent upon opportunities and constraints presented by the space over time. The emplacement processes of Syrians are subject to change through spatial dynamics and practices, implemented development plans, projects, and political discourses, which are all influenced by power relations. Individuals who feel emplaced at a certain time and under certain conditions may feel displaced at another time or under different conditions due to changing spatial dynamics. Therefore, the emplacement process is not unidirectional - it may experience "ruptures" - ups and downs. In accordance with the stages of the sequential model proposed for this research, policy recommendations have been developed. These recommendations aim to support the emplacement processes of Syrians and fair and harmonious coexistence with the local population in a manner that respects human dignity.

Subject Keywords

Emplacement, Syrians, Rights-based approaches, Social production of space, Altındağ

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/108880

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis