Research Article
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Sub-Saharan African migrants in Turkey: a case study on Senegalese migrants in Istanbul

Year 2013, Volume: 68 Issue: 01, 39 - 58, 01.01.2013
https://doi.org/10.1501/SBFder_0000002272

Abstract

Over the last two decades, Turkey has witnessed the arrival of people with different ethnic backgrounds including an increasing number of sub-Saharan African migrants. The presence of these migrants in Turkey has, however, largely been ignored academically. Based on only very scant empirical evidence, sub-Saharan African migrants in Turkey are commonly presented as a homogenous group and all are assumed to be transit migrants on their way to Europe. These assumptions have formed the basis for a policy attitude of ignorance towards these migrants. Drawing from ethnographic data collected among Senegalese migrants in İstanbul between 2010 and 2011, the article sheds light on this disregarded migration reality in Turkey. Adopting a case study approach, the main research objective is to comprehend the presence of a specific group of sub-Saharan African migrants in Turkey through an analysis of their migration aspirations. The main findings challenge on two fronts the prevailing assumptions about sub-Saharan African migrants in Turkey

References

  • Adepoju, Aderanti (2000), “Issues and recent trends in international migration in sub-Saharan Africa,” International Social Science Journal, 52: 383–394.
  • Baird, Theodore (2011), “The missing migration component of Turkey-Africa relations,” http://www.opendemocracy.net/theodore-baird/missing-migration-component-of-turkeyafrica-relations, (15/05/2012).
  • Bredeloup, Sylvie (2012), “Sahara transit: times, spaces, people,” Popul Space Place, 18: 457– 467.
  • Brewer, Kelly T. and Deniz Yükseker (2006), “A Survey on African Migrants and Asylum Seekers in İstanbul,” Research Report, MIREKOC, İstanbul.
  • Collyer, Michael (2007), “In-Between Places: Trans-Saharan Transit Migrants in Morocco and the Fragmented Journey to Europe,” Antipode, 39: 668-690.
  • Collyer, Michael and Hein de Haas (2012), “Developing dynamic categorisations of transit migration,” Popul Space Place, 18: 468-481.
  • de Haas, Hein (2007), “The Myth of Invasion: Irregular migration from West Africa to the Maghreb and the European Union,” IMI Research Report, International Migration Institute, University of Oxford.
  • de Haas, Hein (2008), “Irregular Migration from West Africa to the Maghreb and the European Union: An Overview of Recent Trends,” Paper 32 (Geneva: International Organization for Migration).
  • Düvell, Franck (2006), “Crossing the fringes of Europe: Transit migration in the EU's neighbourhood,” COMPAS Working Paper 33, Centre on Migration, Policy and Society, University of Oxford.
  • Glaser, Barney and Strauss Anselm (1967), The Discovery of Grounded Theory, Chicago, Aldine. İçduygu, Ahmet (2003), “Irregular Migration in Turkey,” Paper 12 (Geneva: International Organization for Migration).
  • İçduygu, Ahmet (2009), “International migration and human development in Turkey,” Human Development Research Paper.
  • İçduygu, Ahmet and Kristen Biehl, (2009), “Managing international urban migration – Turkey, Italia, España,” Report on the migration phenomenon in Turkey the national dimension and an introduction to İstanbul (İstanbul: Koç University).
  • İçduygu, Ahmet and Kemal Kirişci (2009), Land of Diverse Migrations: Challenges of Emigration and Immigration in Turkey (İstanbul: Bilgi University Press).
  • IOM (1995), “Transit Migration in Turkey”, International Organisation for Migration.
  • Kirişci, Kemal (2003), “Turkey: A Transformation from Emigration to Immigration,” (Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute).
  • Kirişci, Kemal (2004), “Asylum, Immigration, Irregular migration and Internally Displacement in Turkey: Institutions, Policies and Analysis,” Euro-Mediterranean Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration, European University Institute, The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies.
  • Mannaert, Celia (2003), “Irregular migration and asylum in Turkey,” UNHCR Working Paper.
  • Özkan, Mehmet (2010), “Turkey’s rising role in Africa,” Turkish policy quarterly, 9(4): 93-105.
  • Pian, Anaik (2005), “Aventuriers et commerçants sénégalais à Casablanca: des parcours entrecroisés,” Autrepart, 4(36): 167-182.
  • Riccio, Bruno (2008), “West African Transnationalisms Compared: Ghanaians and Senegalese in Italy,” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 34(2): 217-234.
  • Schapendonk, Joris and David van Moppes, (2007), “Migration and Information. Images of Europe, migration encouraging factors and en route information sharing,” Working Papers
  • Migration and Development Series. Suter, Brigitte (2012), “Social Networks in Transit: Experiences of Nigerian Migrants in İstanbul,” Journal of Immigrant a Refugee Studies, 10(2): 204-222.
  • Tolay, Juliette (2012), “Discovering Immigration into Turkey: The Emergence of a Dynamic Field,” International Migration.

Türkiye’deki Sahra Altı Afrikalı Göçmenler: İstanbul’daki Senegalli Göçmenler Üzerine Bir Örnek Olay İncelemesi

Year 2013, Volume: 68 Issue: 01, 39 - 58, 01.01.2013
https://doi.org/10.1501/SBFder_0000002272

Abstract

Son 20 yıldan bu yana, Türkiye, sayıları giderek artan Sahra altı Afrikalı göçmenler dahil olmak üzere farklı etnik kökene sahip kişilerin gelişine tanıklık etmiştir. Ancak, Sahra altı Afrikalı göçmenlerin Türkiye’deki varlığı akademik açıdan büyük ölçüde göz ardı edilmiştir. Sadece çok sınırlı ampirik kanıta dayanılarak, Türkiye’deki Sahra altı Afrikalı göçmenler genelde homojen bir grup olarak takdim edilmiş ve hepsinin, Avrupa’ya ulaşmaya çalışan transit göçmenler olduğu varsayılmıştır. Söz konusu varsayımlar, Türkiye’deki Sahra altı Afrikalı göçmenlere yönelik bilgisizlik politikasının temellerini oluşturmuştur. 2010 ve 2011 yıllarında İstanbul’daki Senegalli göçmenler arasında toplanan etnografik verilere dayanarak, bu makale, Türkiye’de görmezden gelinen bu göç gerçeğine ışık tutmaktadır. Vaka çalışması yaklaşımını benimseyen bu çalışmanın temel hedefi, Türkiye’deki Sahra altı Afrikalı göçmenler arasındaki belirli bir grubun varlığını, göç emelleri analizi üzerinden anlamaya çalışmaktır. Senegalli göçmenler arasındaki temel araştırma bulguları, Türkiye’deki Sahra altı Afrikalı göçmenler hakkındaki mevcut varsayımları iki önemli seviyede sınamaktadır.

References

  • Adepoju, Aderanti (2000), “Issues and recent trends in international migration in sub-Saharan Africa,” International Social Science Journal, 52: 383–394.
  • Baird, Theodore (2011), “The missing migration component of Turkey-Africa relations,” http://www.opendemocracy.net/theodore-baird/missing-migration-component-of-turkeyafrica-relations, (15/05/2012).
  • Bredeloup, Sylvie (2012), “Sahara transit: times, spaces, people,” Popul Space Place, 18: 457– 467.
  • Brewer, Kelly T. and Deniz Yükseker (2006), “A Survey on African Migrants and Asylum Seekers in İstanbul,” Research Report, MIREKOC, İstanbul.
  • Collyer, Michael (2007), “In-Between Places: Trans-Saharan Transit Migrants in Morocco and the Fragmented Journey to Europe,” Antipode, 39: 668-690.
  • Collyer, Michael and Hein de Haas (2012), “Developing dynamic categorisations of transit migration,” Popul Space Place, 18: 468-481.
  • de Haas, Hein (2007), “The Myth of Invasion: Irregular migration from West Africa to the Maghreb and the European Union,” IMI Research Report, International Migration Institute, University of Oxford.
  • de Haas, Hein (2008), “Irregular Migration from West Africa to the Maghreb and the European Union: An Overview of Recent Trends,” Paper 32 (Geneva: International Organization for Migration).
  • Düvell, Franck (2006), “Crossing the fringes of Europe: Transit migration in the EU's neighbourhood,” COMPAS Working Paper 33, Centre on Migration, Policy and Society, University of Oxford.
  • Glaser, Barney and Strauss Anselm (1967), The Discovery of Grounded Theory, Chicago, Aldine. İçduygu, Ahmet (2003), “Irregular Migration in Turkey,” Paper 12 (Geneva: International Organization for Migration).
  • İçduygu, Ahmet (2009), “International migration and human development in Turkey,” Human Development Research Paper.
  • İçduygu, Ahmet and Kristen Biehl, (2009), “Managing international urban migration – Turkey, Italia, España,” Report on the migration phenomenon in Turkey the national dimension and an introduction to İstanbul (İstanbul: Koç University).
  • İçduygu, Ahmet and Kemal Kirişci (2009), Land of Diverse Migrations: Challenges of Emigration and Immigration in Turkey (İstanbul: Bilgi University Press).
  • IOM (1995), “Transit Migration in Turkey”, International Organisation for Migration.
  • Kirişci, Kemal (2003), “Turkey: A Transformation from Emigration to Immigration,” (Washington, DC: Migration Policy Institute).
  • Kirişci, Kemal (2004), “Asylum, Immigration, Irregular migration and Internally Displacement in Turkey: Institutions, Policies and Analysis,” Euro-Mediterranean Consortium for Applied Research on International Migration, European University Institute, The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies.
  • Mannaert, Celia (2003), “Irregular migration and asylum in Turkey,” UNHCR Working Paper.
  • Özkan, Mehmet (2010), “Turkey’s rising role in Africa,” Turkish policy quarterly, 9(4): 93-105.
  • Pian, Anaik (2005), “Aventuriers et commerçants sénégalais à Casablanca: des parcours entrecroisés,” Autrepart, 4(36): 167-182.
  • Riccio, Bruno (2008), “West African Transnationalisms Compared: Ghanaians and Senegalese in Italy,” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 34(2): 217-234.
  • Schapendonk, Joris and David van Moppes, (2007), “Migration and Information. Images of Europe, migration encouraging factors and en route information sharing,” Working Papers
  • Migration and Development Series. Suter, Brigitte (2012), “Social Networks in Transit: Experiences of Nigerian Migrants in İstanbul,” Journal of Immigrant a Refugee Studies, 10(2): 204-222.
  • Tolay, Juliette (2012), “Discovering Immigration into Turkey: The Emergence of a Dynamic Field,” International Migration.
There are 23 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Helene Marie-lou De Clerck This is me

Publication Date January 1, 2013
Submission Date July 31, 2014
Published in Issue Year 2013 Volume: 68 Issue: 01

Cite

APA De Clerck, H. M.-l. (2013). Sub-Saharan African migrants in Turkey: a case study on Senegalese migrants in Istanbul. Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi, 68(01), 39-58. https://doi.org/10.1501/SBFder_0000002272
AMA De Clerck HMl. Sub-Saharan African migrants in Turkey: a case study on Senegalese migrants in Istanbul. SBF Dergisi. January 2013;68(01):39-58. doi:10.1501/SBFder_0000002272
Chicago De Clerck, Helene Marie-lou. “Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Turkey: a Case Study on Senegalese Migrants in Istanbul”. Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi 68, no. 01 (January 2013): 39-58. https://doi.org/10.1501/SBFder_0000002272.
EndNote De Clerck HM-l (January 1, 2013) Sub-Saharan African migrants in Turkey: a case study on Senegalese migrants in Istanbul. Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi 68 01 39–58.
IEEE H. M.-l. De Clerck, “Sub-Saharan African migrants in Turkey: a case study on Senegalese migrants in Istanbul”, SBF Dergisi, vol. 68, no. 01, pp. 39–58, 2013, doi: 10.1501/SBFder_0000002272.
ISNAD De Clerck, Helene Marie-lou. “Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Turkey: a Case Study on Senegalese Migrants in Istanbul”. Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi 68/01 (January 2013), 39-58. https://doi.org/10.1501/SBFder_0000002272.
JAMA De Clerck HM-l. Sub-Saharan African migrants in Turkey: a case study on Senegalese migrants in Istanbul. SBF Dergisi. 2013;68:39–58.
MLA De Clerck, Helene Marie-lou. “Sub-Saharan African Migrants in Turkey: a Case Study on Senegalese Migrants in Istanbul”. Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi, vol. 68, no. 01, 2013, pp. 39-58, doi:10.1501/SBFder_0000002272.
Vancouver De Clerck HM-l. Sub-Saharan African migrants in Turkey: a case study on Senegalese migrants in Istanbul. SBF Dergisi. 2013;68(01):39-58.