Call for papers: Migration and Living Together in Urban Turkey

In recent years, cultural, social, political and economic life in Turkey has undergone radical changes due to increasing international migration and a diversified migration profile. In particular, with the arrival of large numbers of Syrian refugees in a short period of time, Turkey became the country hosting the largest number of internationally displaced people worldwide. While in the early years, both political and public discourses centered on welcoming the millions of displaced Syrians, since 2018, the combined effect of the major demographic changes caused by migration and the economic crisis affecting the entire country, has led to increased public reactions and discontent towards the presence of Syrians in particular, as well as other migrant groups perceived as a threat. However, this narrative about the increasing reactionary attitudes towards migrants provides only a partial picture, as many cities in Turkey, especially those that have welcomed successive migration flows over several decades, also contain many spheres where locals and migrants try to maintain and develop new practices of peaceful coexistence. In such urban contexts, where diverse populations rub shoulders, inclusion and exclusion, solidarity and conflict, boundary-crossing and boundary-maintenance crossing borders and protecting borders often tend to coexist not as opposites but as intertwined. This workshop aims to discuss the social and spatial dimensions of these practices and experiences of living together in urban areas affected by migration in Turkey. Researchers who examine this issue within the framework of the following questions and similar ones are encouraged to apply to the workshop:

●      What are the socio-cultural, economic and political practices that make it possible to live together with differences in everyday life in urban areas heavily affected by migration?

●      What are the urban spaces or common areas where different groups encounter in everyday life and what do the interactions that occur during these encounters imply about coexistence?

●      What are the examples of social networks and relationships established between different groups in urban contexts of migration? What is the role of these networks and relations in the construction of social life and coexistence?

●      Can similar experiences of marginalization, exclusion and discrimination allow for a common understanding and solidarity between locals and migrants? What is the potential role of these partnerships in combating social inequalities?

●      What are the local government or civil society practices that aim to facilitate coexistence ın contexts of migration? How do these practices shape coexistence?

●      What are the creative, artistic and technological tools that can promote coexistence in contexts of migration? What role do these tools play in the integration of migrants and their interaction with the local population?

●      What are the ways to advocate for living together in the shadow of the increasing return discourse and policies regarding Syrians in Turkey in recent years, as well as the security and restrictive measures introduced in the field of migration management in general?

While emphasizing the critical importance of living together within the framework of these proposed topics, the workshop aims to encourage the participation of researchers from different disciplines and methodologies and to encourage collective and in-depth knowledge production in this field; it also aims to create a strong dialogue among researchers working on this issue.

Those who wish to apply for participation should send a short CV (100 words), presentation title and abstract (250 words) via the form on the link until April 21, 2025. If you have any questions, you can contact us at kristen.biehl@sabanciuniv.edu .

The workshop is organized within the scope of the project titled “Studying social cohesion practices and processes in urban areas of Istanbul with a high concentration of Syrians from the perspective of different disciplines and methods” funded by Tübitak Scientific and Technological Research Projects Support Program and carried out by Sabancı University faculty members Kristen Biehl as coordinator, Çiğdem Bağcı and Aslı İkizoğlu Erensü as researchers, Semiha Arı and Ezgi Güler as postdoctoral researchers and Celal Altın as PhD researcher.