The relationship between ethnic identity, migration and organized crime

Thesis Title: The Relationship Between Ethnic Identity, Migration, and Organized Crime Author: Esra BİLGİOĞLU University/Institute: Çankırı Karatekin University / Institute of Social Science Department: Department of Political Science and Public Administration / Master's Program with Thesis Advisor: Prof. Dr. Ertan BEŞE Number of Pages: 117 This study aims to examine the structural and functional transformation of organized crime groups through the lens of migration and ethnic identity. With globalization and modernization rendering national borders more permeable, migration flows have intensified, leading to a closer intersection between these movements and organized crime networks. The use of illegal migration routes by refugees and migrants increases their vulnerability to becoming entangled in such networks. Furthermore, experiences of exclusion, limited opportunities, and ethnic discrimination in host countries facilitate their recruitment into organized criminal structures. In this context, ethnic identity functions not only as a cultural marker but also as a means of organization, protection, and resistance. The research evaluates the impact of migration and ethnicity on organized crime structures within the framework of sociological and criminological theories. The primary research questions focus on the role of ethnic identity and migration in organized crime, and how these phenomena are exploited by criminal organizations. A qualitative research design was adopted, employing descriptive and interpretive analysis through comparative case studies. The study investigates the Yakuza in Japan, Mara Salvatrucha in the United States, the Ndrangheta in Italy, and organized crime groups in Turkey, each analyzed within relevant theoretical frameworks. By integrating the often separately treated issues of migration, ethnic identity, and organized crime, this study fills a significant interdisciplinary gap. It also aims to offer actionable insights for policymakers. In this regard, the research contributes both academically and socially to the broader discourse on security, social integration, and justice.