The role of socio-economic capacity of qualified syrian asylum seekers in the transition process to Turkish citizenship

This study discusses the role of rights and liberties provided for refugees in functionalizing their qualifications and capacities in relation to their socio-cultural capital within the framework of right for naturalization. Based on the historical background of migration and naturalization policies adopted in Turkey, cohesion policies were investigated with a specific focus on exceptional acquisition of naturalization, an initiative launched for well-qualified Syrian refugees who crossed into Turkey in mass starting from 2011. Subsidiary sources and the applicable legislation were reviewed, and face-to-face interviews were held with a total of 50 persons respectively, including 35 Turkish citizens of Syrian origin and 15 officials and experts from public agencies, organizations, local authorities and non-governmental organizations in three different cities based on a qualitative research method. 'Naturalization practices and socio-economic capacities' of refugees are the main focus of the study. With reference to naturalization practices and the socio-economic capacities of migrants, four aspects were investigated; i) their qualities and the socio-cultural capital they had prior to their migration, ii) the process of call for naturalization, their adaptation, willingness and expectations, iii) the practices of citizenship, such as equal access to social means, employment, equivalence, occupational recognition iv) the perspective of public policies on naturalized citizens and the adaptation process. The study argues that citizenship rights are effective in improving the socio-economic capacities of refugees, but that they are insufficient. The study claims that lack of recognition and lack of equivalence are aggravating factors that negatively impact the ability of Syrians to fulfill their capacities. However, the study also claims that, despite these issues, Syrian migrants who qualify for citizenship prefer to live in Turkey compared to Europe and other countries because of similarities in culture and access to other rights and liberties. Overall, this study investigates the changing perspective on naturalization by masses of refugees, predicating its analysis from the methodological standpoint of person-based empirical data. Apart from empirical and theoretical inputs, the study also offers solutions for policy making by addressing practical challenges facing migrants starting from the moment they cross into the country. Keywords: Immigration, socio-economic capacity, socio-economic capital, cohesion, naturalization