Opportunities and Obstacles: A Study of Turkish Migration to Argentina

Abstract

This study explores the migration of individuals from Turkey to Argentina, focusing on their motivations. Argentina and Turkey, situated on separate continents with significant geographical distances, harbor distinctive cultural identities, customs, traditions, histories, and languages, posing potential challenges for meaningful interactions and cultural exchange between their populations. The research delves into the stories of 17 migrants who have chosen to move to Argentina or stay long-term. Through an in-depth analysis of social media videos created by these migrants, the study gains first-hand insights into their decision-making processes and the factors influencing their choices. Buenos Aires is portrayed as an attractive destination due to its appealing lifestyle, delicious and affordable gastronomy, well-organized city, rich entertainment scene, elegant European architecture, and freedom of expression with the spoken Spanish language. However, the country’s economic opportunities are perceived as limited, leading migrants to seek additional foreign income for a better quality of life. The study reveals that spending around 600/1200 USD per month on essential expenses, such as housing, food, transportation, and dining out, can result in a significantly improved lifestyle for single/couple migrants from Turkey. Successful migration transition occurs when foreign income is received, language barriers are overcome, and a robust social network is established.

Keywords

• Turkish migration
• Argentina
• economic opportunities
• language barriers
• social network.

References

1. Abel, G. J., Brottrager, M., Cuaresma, J. C., & Muttarak, R. (2019). Climate, conflict, and forced migration. Global Environmental Change, 54, 239–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2018.12.003
2. Acemoğlu, D., & Robinson, J. A. (2015). Why nations fail: The origins of power, prosperity, and poverty. Profile Books.
3. Agafonoff, N. (2006). Adapting ethnographic research methods to ad hoc commercial market research. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 9(2), 115–125. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13522750610658766
4. Bah, Y. M. (2023). Illegal migration push and pull factors: Lessons for migration management professionals. International Review of Economic Studies: IRES-110, 51-60.
5. Bakewell, O. (2021). Unsettling the boundaries between forced and voluntary migration. In E. Carmel, K. Lenner, & R. Paul (Eds.), Handbook on the politics and governance of migration (pp. 124–136). Edward Elgar Publishing.
6. Becker, S. O., & Ferrara, A. (2019). Consequences of forced migration: A survey of recent findings. Labor Economics, 59, 1-16.
7. Çiçek, A. (2023). The tendency of physician candidates in Turkey to migrate abroad. Journal of Civilization Studies, 8(2), 67–80.
8. Deniz, T. (2014). Turkey in the perspective of international migration problem. Turkish Journal of Social Research, 18(1), 175–204.

9. DeVoretz, D. J., & Pivnenko, S. (2004). The economic causes and consequences of Canadian citizenship. IZA Discussion Paper No. 1395, 1-37. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.608221
10. Faulkner, L. (2003). Beyond the five-user assumption: Benefits of increased sample sizes in usability testing. Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers, 35, 379-383.
11. Gezgüç, G. M., & Uzun, T. (2017). Arjantin siyasi tarihinde askeri darbeler. Ekonomi ve Yönetim Araştırmaları Dergisi, 6(2), 150–183.
12. Grigg, D. B. (1977). E. G. Ravenstein and the “laws of migration.” Journal of Historical Geography, 3(1), 41–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-7488(77)90143-8
13. Gupta, M., Shaheen, M., & Reddy, K. P. (2018). Qualitative techniques for workplace data analysis. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-5366-3
14. Hennink, M., & Kaiser, B. N. (2022). Sample sizes for saturation in qualitative research: A systematic review of empirical tests. Social Science & Medicine, 292, 114523. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114523
15. Hoppe, A., & Fujishiro, K. (2015). Anticipated job benefits, career aspiration, and generalized self-efficacy as predictors of migration decision-making. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 47, 13–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2015.03.025
16. Hujo, K., & Piper, N. (Eds.). (2010). South-South migration: Implications for social policy and development. Palgrave Macmillan.
17. Işık, Y. D. D. N. (2005). Finansal krizlerin ortaya çıkmasında sermaye hareketlerinin rolü: Rusya, Türkiye ve Arjantin krizleri. Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey Üniversitesi Sosyal ve Ekonomik Araştırmalar Dergisi, 2005(2), 83–97.
18. Koyuncu, M., & Şenses, F. (2004). Kısa dönem krizlerin sosyoekonomik etkileri: Türkiye, Endonezya ve Arjantin deneyimleri. Çalışma ve Toplum, 3(3), 11–52.
19. Kumar, V. (2012). 101 design methods: A structured approach for driving innovation in your organization. Wiley.
20. Kutor, S. K., Raileanu, A., & Simandan, D. (2021). International migration, cross-cultural interaction, and the development of personal wisdom. Migration Studies, 9(3), 490–513. https://doi.org/10.1093/ migration/mnz049
21. Lindgren, B. M., Lundman, B., & Graneheim, U. H. (2020). Abstraction and interpretation during the qualitative content analysis process. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 108, 103632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. ijnurstu.2020.103632
22. Massey, D. S., Arango, J., Hugo, G., Kouaouci, A., Pellegrino, A., & Taylor, J. E. (1998). Worlds in motion: Understanding international migration at the end of the millennium. Clarendon Press.
23. Özdemir, D. (2023). Geçmişten günümüze Arjantin – IMF borçlanma ilişkileri ve ekonomik sonuçları. Finans Ekonomi ve Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 8(1), 156–164.
24. Ratha, D., & Shaw, W. (2007). South-South migration and remittances. World Bank.
25. Rosenblatt, Z., & Sheaffer, Z. (2001). Brain drain in declining organizations: Toward a research agenda. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 22(4), 409–424. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.89
26. Sabie, D., Ekmekcioglu, C., & Ahmed, S. I. (2022). A decade of international migration research in HCI: Overview, challenges, ethics, impact, and future directions. ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction, 29(4), 1–35. https://doi.org/10.1145/3490555
27. Şener, A., Terzioğlu, R. G., & Karabulut, E. (2007). Life satisfaction and leisure activities during men’s retirement: A Turkish sample. Aging & Mental Health, 11(1), 30–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860600736349
28. Shah, A., & Lerche, J. (2020). Migration and the invisible economies of care: Production, social reproduction, and seasonal migrant labor in India. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 45, 719–734. https:// doi.org/10.1111/tran.12401
29. Tipayalai, K. (2020). Impact of international labor migration on regional economic growth in Thailand. Economic Structures, 9(15), 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40008-020-00192-7
30. Tuygan, A. (May 29, 2023,). Türkiye chooses authoritarian rule over democracy. Diplomatic Opinion. https:// diplomaticopinion.com/2023/05/29/turkiye-chooses-authoritarian-rule-over-democracy/
31. Urcan, C. (2023). Latin Amerika’da yoksulluğu önlemede küreselleşmenin etkisi: Arjantin deneyimi. Ahi Evran Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 9(3), 696–915. https://doi.org/10.31592/aeusbed.1225706
32. Wanniarachchi, H. E., Kumara Jayakody, J. A. S. & Jayawardana, A. K. L (2022). An organizational perspective on brain drain: What can organizations do to stop it? The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 33(8), 1489–1525. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585192.2020.1758745