The Quest for Active Citizenship in Local Governance: Immigrant Councils as a Practice of Participation

Öz

This study examines how local migrant councils facilitate active citizenship within migrant communities, starting from the question of what role these councils play in promoting active citizenship among migrant populations in various communities. The research design is based on a qualitative approach and relies on a comparative case study method conducted using selected examples from Turkey and around the world. The study’s methodology focuses on analyzing the institutional structures of these councils, the activities they carry out, and the structural barriers they face. The key comparison parameters identified in the analysis process include the legal status of the councils, their representational capacity, their influence within decision-making mechanisms, and the methods they employ to facilitate civic and political participation. Shortcomings in these legal and institutional frameworks not only hinder the potential of these assemblies but also limit migrants’ participation in social life. Consequently, for migrant councils to become functional, their legal status must be strengthened, and local governments must recognize these structures as an integral part of political will. Thus, this study aims to contribute to the literature by concretely identifying the institutional shortcomings in the process of transforming migrants from passive recipients into active agents of local democracy.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Political participation
• Active citizenship
• City
• Immigrants
• Local immigrant councils

Yerel Yönetişimde Aktif Vatandaşlık Arayışı: Bir Katılım Pratiği Olarak Göçmen Meclisleri

Öz

Bu çalışma yerel göçmen meclislerinin çeşitli topluluklardaki göçmen nüfus arasında aktif vatandaşlığı teşvik etmedeki işlevinin ne olduğu sorusundan yola çıkarak yerel göçmen meclislerinin göçmen topluluklarında aktif vatandaşlığı nasıl kolaylaştırdığını incelemektedir. Araştırma tasarımı, nitel bir yaklaşım üzerine kurgulanmış olup; Türkiye ve dünya genelindeki seçili örnekler üzerinden yürütülen karşılaştırmalı vaka analizi yöntemine dayanmaktadır. Çalışmanın yöntemi, bu meclislerin kurumsal yapılarını, yürüttükleri faaliyetleri ve karşılaştıkları yapısal engelleri çözümlemeyi esas almaktadır. Analiz sürecinde yasal statüleri, temsil kapasiteleri, karar verme süreçlerindeki etkileri ve yerel makamlarla geliştirdikleri yönetişim dinamikleri olmak üzere temel karşılaştırma parametreleri olarak belirlenmiştir. Yasal ve kurumsal çerçevelerdeki yetersizlikler, bu meclislerin potansiyelini engellediği gibi göçmenlerin toplumsal yaşama katılımını da sınırlandırmaktadır. Sonuç olarak; göçmen meclislerinin işlev kazanabilmesi için yasal statülerinin güçlendirilmesi ve yerel yönetimlerin bu yapıları siyasi iradenin bir parçası olarak kabul etmesi gerekmektedir. Böylece çalışma, göçmenlerin pasif alıcılar olmaktan çıkıp yerel demokrasinin aktif özneleri haline gelmeleri sürecindeki kurumsal eksiklikleri somutlaştırması bakımından literatüre katkı sağlamayı hedeflemektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Siyasi katılım
• Aktif vatandaşlık
• Kent
• Göçmenler
• Yerel göçmen meclisleri

Kaynakça

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