International irregular migration, social cohesion and perception of security: The case of Isparta

This study aims to analyze the effects of international irregular migration on social cohesion and security perception in the city center of Isparta. Today, migration is not only a demographic movement but also a determinant factor affecting the social fabric, spatial structure, and social relations of cities. Irregular migration, in particular, causes various problems in the integration process of migrants into urban life; this situation reflects on the daily lives of both the settled population and the migrants. In this context, the study addresses the interaction between migrants' adaptation to urban life and the settled population's security perception with a multidimensional approach. The study employs a mixed-methods approach; findings obtained through qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques were analyzed comparatively. In the qualitative phase, 12 individuals from the settled population were selected by purposive sampling, and 12 migrants were selected by probabilistic sampling, with semi-structured interviews conducted. The audio recordings of the interviews were analyzed using content analysis. In the quantitative phase, surveys were applied to 352 foreign migrants and 377 settled individuals; data were collected in the Pirimehmet and Bağlar neighborhoods of Isparta. Frequency distributions and Chi-square tests were used in the analyses conducted with the SPSS program. The findings show that foreign migrants experience exclusion, discrimination, difficulties in accessing services, and a lack of spatial belonging in the social integration process. In neighborhood relations, some of the settled population establish supportive ties with migrants, while others maintain social distance and mistrust. Both groups perceive inadequacy and injustice in state aid. Although the majority view migrants as a risk factor in terms of security perception, positive attitudes also exist. This situation reveals the multidimensional nature of social integration and security perception shaped by individual experiences. The study contributes to the local-level understanding of the relationships between migration, urbanization, and security. Keywords: International ırregular migration, social cohesion, security perception, neighborly relations, state aid, urbanization.