Belonging in Karachay Balkars

The Caucasus region encompasses various ethnic groups such as the Karachay- Balkars, Dagestanis, Chechen-Ingush, Abkhazians, Kabardians, Adyghe, and Ossetians. Many different cultures have coexisted in the Caucasus. Due to the policies implemented by the Russians, the majority of the Caucasian peoples migrated to the Ottoman Empire from the end of the 19th century to the 20th century. Focal point of this thesis is the Karachay-Balkars who settled in the Republic of Turkey. It is known that they migrated to the Ottoman Empire primarily during the migration waves of 1885 and 1905. Today, they continue their lives in Karachay villages and urban centers in Turkey. The subject of this study is the sense of belonging of the Karachays living in Turkey.The process of adaptation after migration has been researched to understand the sense of belonging. The social interactions that took place during the adaptation process have shaped the identities of the Karachay people. Social changes have had an impact on their languages, cultures, and identities. In order to understand the identity and sense of belonging of the Karachay-Balkars, the history of the Karachay people has been narrated. Interviews were conducted with 10 Karachay individuals living in Turkey in order to engage in a discussion about a sense of belonging. The data obtained from the interviews were interpreted to analyze identity and sense of belonging.