Factors and Assessments Shaping the Return Intentions of Syrians Living in Turkey

Öz

Turkey is the country hosting the highest number of Syrians in the world. Since 2016, the voluntary return of Syrians has been proposed by various actors as a lasting solution. The end of the Syrian civil war by 2024 has further strengthened this perspective. However, there is limited knowledge about how Syrians perceive and evaluate their return options. This research aims to examine the return intentions of Syrians in Turkey and the factors that shape these intentions using qualitative methods. Individual semi-structured interviews with 15 adult Syrians living in İzmir revealed that participants’ return intentions could be grouped into three main categories: willingness to return in the short term, evaluating return in the future, and rejecting return. Participants' evaluations regarding return were categorized into seven main themes: the suitability of living conditions in Turkey, the suitability of conditions in Syria for return, adaptation and integration into Turkey, family ties and longing, readiness for return: the role of psychological and economic conditions, societal pressures regarding return, and intra-family disagreements. The findings show that Syrians' return intentions reflect complex and dynamic decision-making processes. These results suggest that policymakers should develop sensitive and phased solutions for Syrians with different return intentions.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Turkey
• Syrian Migration
• Return Migration
• Return Intention
• Policy Implication.

Etik Beyan

The data of this study were obtained with the permission of the decision numbered “2025/02-09” taken at the meeting of Izmir Kâtip Çelebi Univ. Ethics Committee dated 22.01.2025.

Türkiye’de Yaşayan Suriyelilerin Geri Dönüş Niyetlerine Yön Veren Faktörler ve Değerlendirmeler

Öz

Türkiye, dünyada en fazla Suriyeliye ev sahipliği yapan ülke konumundadır. 2016 yılından itibaren Suriyelilerin gönüllü geri dönüşü, çeşitli aktörler tarafından kalıcı bir çözüm olarak önerilmiştir. 2024 yılı itibarıyla Suriye iç savaşının sona ermesi, bu görüşü daha da güçlendirmiştir. Ancak, Suriyelilerin geri dönüş seçeneklerini nasıl algıladıkları ve değerlendirdikleri konusunda çok az bilgi bulunmaktadır. Bu araştırma, Türkiye’deki Suriyelilerin geri dönüş göçüne yönelik niyetlerini ve bu niyetleri şekillendiren faktörleri nitel yöntemle derinlemesine incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. İzmir’de yaşayan 15 yetişkin Suriyeli ile yapılan bireysel yarı-yapılandırılmış görüşmeler, katılımcıların geri dönüş niyetlerini üç ana kategoride gruplaştırmıştır: kısa vadede dönme isteği, gelecekte dönüşü değerlendirme ve dönüşü reddetme. Katılımcıların geri dönüşe yönelik değerlendirmeleri ise, yedi ana tema etrafında toplanmıştır: Türkiye’deki yaşam koşullarının uygunluğu, Suriye’deki koşulların geri dönüş için uygunluğu, Türkiye’ye uyum ve entegrasyon, aile bağları ve özlem, geri dönüş için hazırlık: psikolojik ve ekonomik koşulların rolü, geri dönüşe yönelik toplumsal baskılar ve aile içi fikir ayrılıkları. Bulgular, Suriyelilerin geri dönüş niyetlerinin karmaşık ve dinamik karar alma süreçlerini yansıttığını göstermektedir. Bu sonuçlar, politika yapıcıların, geri dönüş konusunda farklı isteklere sahip Suriyeliler için duyarlı ve aşamalı çözümler geliştirmeleri gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Türkiye
• Suriyeli Göçü
• Geri Dönüş Göçü
• Geri Dönüş Niyeti
• Politika Önerisi.

Etik Beyan

Bu çalışmanın verileri İzmir Kâtip Çelebi Üniv. Etik Kurulu’nun 22.01.2025 tarihli toplantısında alınan “2025/02-09” numaralı karar izniyle elde edilmiştir.

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