Building Bridges Between Civil Society and Migration Studies: The Case of Turkey

Öz

Over the last thirty years, globalization-related developments have led to new debates on civil society and international migration. Despite the diverse theoretical approaches in civil society and migration studies, the increasing role of civil society in migration calls for building bridges between these fields of study.
Purpose: Drawing on liberal and critical approaches in civil society studies, this article analyzes the impact of civil society on migration processes through three thematic areas – integration, transnational movements, and global governance. In particular, it aims to establish theoretical and empirical bridges between civil society and migration studies through the example of Turkey.
Method: The article first employs a systematic literature review to map academic debates on civil society in Turkey’s migration field. Second, a thematic analysis is carried out on the primary documents on civil society.
Findings: The paradigm shift in Turkey’s migration policies has triggered civil society's proliferation and diversification. However, the centralization of the state’s power in migration governance and civil society policies channeled civil society into working in a limited area and utilizing short-term strategies. Consequently, academic debates predominantly focus on the role of civil society in service provision. Originality: This article is original in comprehensively analyzing the civil society studies through the paradigm shift in the field of migration in Turkey.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• civil society
• international migration
• Turkey
• service provision
• integration
• transnational movements
• global migration governance

SİVİL TOPLUM VE GÖÇ ÇALIŞMALARINDA KÖPRÜLER KURMAK: TÜRKİYE ÖRNEĞİ

Öz

Son otuz yılda küreselleşmenin etkisiyle yaşanan dönüşümler, uluslararası göç ve sivil toplum alanlarında yeni tartışmaların gelişmesini beraberinde getirmiştir. Bu iki alana dair akademik çalışmalarda farklı kuramsal yaklaşımlar görülmekle birlikte, sivil toplumun göç süreçlerinde her geçen gün daha önemli bir aktör olarak yer alması iki alan arasında köprüler kurulmasını zaruri hale getirmektedir.
Amaç: Bu makale, sivil toplum alanındaki kuramsal tartışmalardan yola çıkarak, liberal ve eleştirel yaklaşımlar üzerinden Türkiye örneğini ele almayı amaçlamaktadır. Makalede Türkiye’de uluslararası göç alanında faaliyet gösteren sivil toplum alanına dair akademik çalışmaların haritalandırılmasından faydalanılarak, üç tematik alan üzerinden –entegrasyon, ulusaşırı hareketler ve küresel yönetişim– sivil toplumun, göç süreçlerine etkisi analiz edilmektedir. Bu bağlamda Türkiye örneği üzerinden sivil toplum ve göç çalışmaları arasında teorik ve ampirik köprüler kurulması hedeflenmektedir.
Yöntem: Makalede ilk olarak Türkiye’de göç alanında faaliyet gösteren sivil toplum alanına dair akademik çalışmaları haritalandırabilmek amacıyla sistemli bir literatür taraması yapılmaktadır. İkinci olarak, sivil toplum kuruluşlarının birincil dokümanları üzerinden tematik analiz gerçekleştirilmektedir.
Bulgular: Türkiye’nin göç politikalarında yaşanan paradigma değişikliği, bu alanda çalışan sivil toplum kuruluşlarının sayıca artması ve çeşitlenmesini beraberinde getirmektedir. Ancak devletin hem göç yönetişimi hem de sivil toplum politikalarında merkezi otoritesini güçlendirmesi, sivil toplum kuruluşlarının sınırlı bir alanda ve kısa süreli stratejilere yönelik çalışabilmesine yol açmaktadır. Bu durum alandaki akademik çalışmaların da sivil toplumun hizmet sağlayıcılığı rolüne odaklanmasını beraberinde getirmektedir.
Özgünlük: Türkiye’deki göç alanında yaşanan paradigma değişikliği üzerinden sivil toplum alanını kapsamlı olarak analiz etmesi açısından bu makale özgünlük taşımaktadır. 

Anahtar Kelimeler

• sivil toplum
• uluslararası göç
• Türkiye
• hizmet sağlayıcılık
• entegrasyon
• ulusaşırı hareketler
• küresel göç yönetişimi

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