Syrians and migration in Turkey: Factors affecting their decision making process for staying or returning home

This thesis aims to examine factors that play important roles in decision making process of Syrians to stay or return to their homeland. In order to explore conditions under which Syrian live in Turkey, this study first looks at case studies of current literature on refugees and migration and examine the experiences that refugees have undergone in other parts of the world. This thesis then, tries to explain social and economic conditions of Syrians in Turkey and reveal their own decisions process as to return to their homeland or stay in Turkey. Based on qualitative research, this study examines the case of Syrians who live in Gaziantep and İzmir. Findings of this study draws on in-depth-interviews with 57 Syrians in Gaziantep and İzmir. It also makes use of findings gathered from 3 focus group, one in Gaziantep and two in İzmir, carried out during the fieldwork. Sample of this study comprises of Syrians with different age scales and income groups. It is found that most Syrians left their homeland due to civil war, lack of security and a complete destruction of infrastructure in Syria. The reasons why some Syrians live in Gaziantep are closely related with the availability of job in the labour market, proximity of the city to Syria, social network, cultural familiarity and security. For those who live in İzmir particularly underline reasons for having an geographical advantages to get access to Europe. In both cities Syrians have somehow managed to make a living against all the odds. Findings of this research reveals that the reasons why some Syrians prefer not to go back to their homeland are lack of security and stability in Syria. On the other hand, those of Syrians who have found themselves worse off in Turkey in comparison to their living conditions before the civil war in Syria, tend to return to their homeland. In respect to marital status, those who are single and or not married, still consider to carry on their education and look for opportunities to go to Europe. Findings also show that religious factors and length of durations to stay in Turkey incline most Syrians prefer to live in Turkey. Whereas those Syrians who explicitly complain about wide ranges of discriminations, exclusions and prejudges in Turkey either tend to go back to Syria or looks for elsewhere for a living. Last but by no means least, legal status of Syrians also play an important role in their own decision making process. Turkish government's attempt to create a safe zone in northern Syria seems to encourage some Syrians to return to that region which make them get more closer to their homeland in Syria. Most Syrians covered by this research state that they carefully follow news and political debates about Syrians especially during the time of election in Turkey. Key Words: Syrians, Refugees, Migration, Asylum Seekers, Gaziantep, İzmir.