Pathways to Migration Governance: A Comparison of Turkish Municipalities

Turkey is currently facing the significant task of accommodating the world's largest number of refugees, which stands as a critical juncture for European migration policies. The arrival of refugees, especially from the Syrian conflict since 2011, has significantly impacted how local administrations in Turkey function. My study aims to examine the changes in Turkey's local migration policies prompted by this influx of refugees, with a particular emphasis on the responses from Turkish municipalities. In this presentation, I will introduce a conceptual framework that illustrates the varied responses of local governments to migration. It identifies certain strategies that have been successful in promoting inclusive migration governance. To support this framework, I employ a multi-method approach combining text mining, Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), and on-site interviews. This approach leverages data from major municipalities across Turkey, enabling a detailed understanding of how these entities address migration challenges and influence the dynamics of urban citizenship. The background of this study is framed by Turkey's historical development, characterized by issues with national identity, evolving migration patterns, and established practices within its migration governance framework. Since its establishment as a nation-state in 1923, Turkey has rapidly modernized, heavily drawing on Western examples like the French administrative system. This modernization process has profoundly reshaped Turkey's national identity. The nation-building process defined criteria for belonging, where minorities and migrants from former Ottoman territories were integrated as citizens based on their Turkish or Muslim identity, irrespective of their legal status. However, the debates over national identity and belonging continue to be prominent in Turkey's complex political environment, further complicated by the demographic, social, and cultural ramifications of becoming an immigrant-receiving country. The influx of millions of refugees over the past decade has significantly altered this trajectory. This paper places a particular focus on the municipal level, recognizing it as a critical arena where changes induced by migration are most observable and actively addressed. By examining the adaptations and transformations among local actors and institutions, this study illuminates the evolving dynamics of inclusion and exclusion, enhanced by a comprehensive methodological approach.