Xenophobia and Intercultural Communication: Turkish Students in the Erasmus Program

Öz

This study investigates the prevalence of xenophobia among Erasmus students and examines its relationship with their experiences and cultural integration. While the Erasmus program has effectively promoted intercultural communication, awareness, and a sense of European identity, insufficient attention has been given to the xenophobia experienced by students within the program. This mixed-method study addresses this gap by surveying 237 Turkish Erasmus students, revealing that despite their high levels of satisfaction with the program, xenophobia remains a significant issue, particularly for Turkish participants. The findings highlight the need for a stronger emphasis on social inclusion, equity, tolerance, and mutual understanding within the Erasmus framework. The study concludes that although the Erasmus program has significant potential to facilitate cultural integration, additional efforts are required to address and mitigate, if not eliminate, xenophobia and racism effectively.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Xenophobia
• Racism
• Turkish Erasmus students
• European identity
• intercultural communication
• tolerance

Yabancı Düşmanlığı ve Kültürlerarası İletişim: Erasmus Programındaki Türk Öğrenciler

Öz

Bu çalışma, Türk Erasmus öğrenci deneyimi ve yabancı düşmanlığının yaygınlığını ve bunun kültürel entegrasyon üzerindeki ilişkisini araştırmaktadır. Erasmus programı, kültürlerarası iletişimi, farkındalığı ve Avrupa kimliğini etkili bir şekilde teşvik ederken, öğrencilerin yaşadığı yabancı düşmanlığının program kapsamında yeterince incelenmediği görülmektedir. Bu karma yöntemli çalışma, 237 Türk Erasmus öğrencisini anket yoluyla inceleyerek bu eksikliği ele almakta ve programdan duyulan yüksek memnuniyete rağmen, özellikle Türk öğrenciler için yabancı düşmanlığının önemli bir sorun olarak kaldığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bulgular, Erasmus çerçevesinde sosyal katılım, eşitlik, hoşgörü ve karşılıklı anlayışın teşvik edilmesine yönelik daha fazla odaklanma gerekliliğini vurgulamaktadır. Çalışma, Erasmus programının kültürel entegrasyonu kolaylaştırma konusunda önemli bir potansiyele sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. Ancak bu çalışma aynı zamanda yabancı düşmanlığını ve ırkçılığı ele almak, hafifletmek, hatta mümkünse ortadan kaldırmak için ek çabalara ihtiyaç duyulduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Yabancı düşmanlığı
• ırkçılık
• Türk Erasmus öğrencileri
• Avrupa kimliği
• kültürlerarası iletişim
• hoşgörü

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