The Philanthropic Activities During Conflict: The Case Study of the Expatriate Syrian Business Community

Year 2021, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 49 - 74, 30.06.2021

Ching-an Chang

https://doi.org/10.26513/tocd.884311

Abstract

This paper analyzes the ways in which the expatriate Syrian business community engages in philanthropic activities to provide help to its fellow countrymen in host countries. Why and how did this group of people, after experiencing the brutal war and losing their assets and families, decide to provide a giving hand to others after relocations? And why did some others not? The mainstream media and reports usually describe the refugees as aid receivers who are disadvantaged or resourceless. However, from the case of the expatriate Syrian businesspeople who fled from Syria to its neighboring countries due to the conflict back home, there are various groups of Syrian philanthropic organizations funded by those businesspeople to give help and aid to other Syrians in the host countries. Their philanthropic aid is not limited to material goods, but also includes religious courses, education, and employee training. The paper argues that although refugees are usually considered to live in a poor or weaker position, the economically strong members (mostly businesspeople) among them can bring positive effects to the difficult humanitarian situations.

Keywords

Syrian refugee, refugee businesspeople, philanthropic activities, transnationalism, diaspora

Supporting Institution

Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Project Number

Most 108-2636-H-004-002

Çatışma bağlamında hayırseverlik faaliyetleri: Suriyeli göçmenlerin iş dünyasından örnek vaka incelemesi

Abstract

Bu makale, göçmen Suriyeli iş dünyasının bulundukları ülkedeki yurttaşlarına yardım sağlamak için organize ettikleri hayırseverlik faaliyetlerini analiz etmektedir. Bu insanlar, savaşın acımasız yönlerini deneyimledikten, sahip olduklarını ve ailelerini kaybettikten sonra, göç ettikleri yerlerde başkalarına yardım etmeye neden ve nasıl karar verdiklerini? Ve bazılarının, aksine neden bu tür girişimlerde yer almadıklarını? incelemektedir. Ana akım medya ve araştırma raporları genellikle mültecileri dezavantajlı veya imkanı olmayan, muhtaç kişiler olarak tanımlıyor. Ancak, iç savaş nedeniyle Suriye'den komşu ülkelere kaçan Suriyeli göçmen işadamlarının, ev sahibi ülkelerde diğer Suriyelilere yardım ve destek sağlamak için kurdukları çeşitli Suriyeli hayırsever kuruluş grupları bulunmaktadır. Bu yardımlar sadece maddi değildir, aynı zamanda dini kurslar, eğitimi ve mesleki eğitimleri de içermektedir. Makale, mültecilerin genellikle zayıf veya muhtaç bir konumda yaşadıkları düşünse de, aralarındaki ekonomik açıdan güçlü üyelerin (çoğunlukla iş adamları) bu türden insani krizlerin hafifletilmesinde katkı sağlayabildiklerini göstermektedir.

Keywords

Suriyeli mülteci, mülteci iş adamları, hayırsever faaliyetler, ulusaşırılık, diaspora

Project Number

Most 108-2636-H-004-002

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