Friendship, Diversity, and Inequality

: A multidimensional analysis of integration and intergroup relations in the context of Syrian refugees in Turkey

Abstract

This thesis presents a multidimensional analysis of intergroup relations and integration in the context of Syrian refugees in Turkey. Integration has been an important topic in migration studies and the existing research has focused mainly on the structural components and immigrants’, asylum seekers’ and refugees’ access to services and rights. The focus of research has often been on the Global North, especially Europe and North America. This thesis seeks to diversify and enhance our understanding in this field of study by looking at these issues in a Global South context. It goes beyond analysing just structural components and access to services and rights by presenting a multidimensional framework to study integration as a two-way process in which attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours of both refugees and local community members influence intergroup relations and integration. The thesis implements a mixed method design and systematically examines attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours based on the data collected from Syrian refugees, local community members, and staff members in national and international non-governmental organisations. By exploring and discussing the needs and expectations of both communities in three different settings (the provinces of Mardin, Hatay, and Bursa), this thesis investigates the factors and processes that impact intergroup contact; sociocultural diversity; and structural inequalities and deprivations. In explaining how these variables help with understanding the participants’ perceptions of intergroup relations and integration: The thesis makes evident that refugee participants have more positive perceptions of intergroup relations and integration than local community members; feel satisfied with being in and intend to stay in Turkey; expect the government to support refugees to achieve social cohesion; and identify being granted citizenship as a pathway to achieving equal rights. It was also found that participants from local communities tend to avoid both intergroup relations and communication; feel uncomfortable with Syrian refugees’ presence; object to refugees being granted citizenship and remaining in Turkey; yet expect the government to support Syrian refugees with social cohesion. Their ambiguous legal status; limited ability to engage in internal or cross-border mobility; challenges in accessing services and rights; and discrimination by local community members play a crucial role in the responses of refugee participants. Anti-egalitarian and anti-Syrian sentiments; perceived competition for resources; hierarchical and negative prejudices towards the Arab community, particularly Syrians; and perceived and experienced socioeconomic hardship are among the main reasons for the attitudes and perceptions of participants from local communities. Also, the comparison of local contexts in this research provided further evidence to support these findings and emphasises the importance of considering local dynamics in devising a more comprehensive analysis of intergroup relations and integration. Finally, the thesis offers the finding that, in the absence of previous conflicts, the factors of sociocultural similarities, kinship, and language contribute to integration and positive intergroup relations.

Date of Award	Oct 2021
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Coventry University
Supervisor	Bahar Baser Ozturk (Supervisor), Katharine Jones (Supervisor) & Heaven Crawley (Supervisor)