Insight Turkey / issues

Editor's Note | Winter 2022

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 18:01:00 GMT

This issue of Insight Turkey aims to present the current intertwined situation of climate change and migration by providing its readers with a general framework of the global natural challenges facing migrants and refugees and highlighting different migration and refugee policies from a selection of cases. We hope that this issue will pave the way for future research into the relationship between climate change and migration and the necessary policies that need to be undertaken in this regard.

Footloose Workers in Times of Calamities: A Case Study of the 2018 Kerala Floods

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 18:56:00 GMT

Kerala, the southernmost state in India, much researched for its high standard of living and a model of development, largely dependent on international remittances, experienced one of its worst floods in 2018. The state also experiences a peculiar type of labor crisis; where the local population migrates internationally, attracting interstate migrants to compensate for the labor deficit. However, in times of calamities like floods, these unorganized laborers are the worst hit and still the last priority. The media widely reported their mass exodus, unhygienic living conditions, and mistreatment in relief camps during the floods, though the policy responses have been unsatisfactory to date. The paper tries to evaluate the role of inter-state migrants in the socio-economic profile of Kerala and comments on the necessity to include them as a priority in the migration policy discussions, particularly in light of the state’s extreme proneness to natural disasters.

Illegal Migration to and from Libya, the Nigerian Factor and the EU: An Agenda for a Resolution

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 19:29:00 GMT

This paper takes a cursory and insightful examination of the socio-economic implications of the illegal migration to and from Libya. It aims to provide an interrogation of the underlying causes and exacerbation of the development, its transformation to new forms of slavery and source of income for certain criminal elements, the role of the EU, and how it affects Nigerians and other sub-Saharan African citizens. The paper recommends that the European Union, Nigeria’s federal government, and other sub-Saharan African leadership should endeavor to man their borders very strategically and engage with the Libyan authorities effectively to reduce the illegal migration. Finally, the work recommends that the United Nations Commission for Refugees, International Organization on Migration, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and importantly, more stable governments of the Middle East, especially Turkey and Egypt should intervene in the process to curtail further conflicts in Libya.

Unsustainable Systems: Externalization as a Nonviable Form of Migration Management in the Face of Climate Change

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 20:25:00 GMT

Climate change has recently emerged as a major factor informing people’s decision to migrate and has increased the urgency of traditional reasons behind migration such as economic hardship, political turmoil, repression, and unjust social conditions. Indeed, given the increasing gravity of climate change, every single individual could become a migrant and every single country could be a source of migration. Regarding the management of migration, which impacts more and more places, a more equitable sharing of responsibility would not only protect the rights of migrants but also create a fair system for all nations. This study addresses climate change along with the more traditional reasons behind migratory movements. It tackles the role of externalization policies, which are expected to gain further momentum due to the growing diversity of push factors, on migratory movements. It also analyzes the functions and implementation of border control, repatriation agreements, and other legal arrangements intended to make it harder for migrants to access international protection.

Turkey’s Buffer Zone in Northern Syria and Its Impact on Irregular Migration

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 22:54:00 GMT

ABSTRACT This commentary examines Ankara’s ‘safe zones’ in Northern Syria, as well as elaborating on whether creating safe zones in response to the war in Syria and the subsequent humanitarian catastrophe was a choice or a requirement for Ankara in terms of irregular migration and border security. Turkey has declared multiple safe zones within Syria’s borders, using its right to self-defense under international law, to battle terrorist organizations that have taken advantage of the rising authority vacuum on Syrian land to put Turkish borders and nationals in danger. After an examination of the critical turning points in the Syrian civil war, the paper proposes that the safe zones serve three preemptive and prospective functions by providing a safe haven for the civilian population, by paving a step forward in the counter-terrorism campaign, and attempts to stop irregular migration and finally, by allowing Syrians to return to their homeland.

Global Developments in Climate Policy and Migration Policy: Can the UN Be a Base to Create an Adequate Legal Framework?

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 23:16:00 GMT

This commentary discusses how the latest resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), recognizing “The Human Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment,” paves the way for a juridico-political argument over Climate-induced problems. First and foremost in this piece, the climate change-related refugee movement is examined from a critical perspective. Additionally, the paper also asserts that the issue of ‘climate refugees’ is neglected, and climate-induced migration challenges the current international migration framework. Therefore, this commentary seeks to investigate the impacts and relevance of international law and politics on ‘climate refugees’ in the case of the Republic of Haiti. Lastly, the paper offers practical solutions for those displaced by environmental factors.

The New German Coalition and Its Impact on EU-Turkey Relations

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 0:28:00 GMT

Turkish-German relations not only have a long tradition of close cooperation but are also based on mutual dependence. A structure that has become increasingly complex and intertwined over time shapes the dynamics of Turkish-German relations through numerous historical, economic, cultural, and social factors. As a result, the scale of the bilateral relationship has occasionally caused frustration and disappointment due to various political differences on both sides. The growing European dimension of bilateral relations has further complicated relations and is increasingly dominating the agenda. Since the turn of the millennium, Turkish-German relations can be described as a roller coaster ride. There have been many ups and downs, conflicts, and collaborations. In the past, the formation of a new government in Germany with a new Federal Chancellor (Gerhard Schröder, Angela Merkel) had a decisive influence on the course of the roller coaster ride. It is therefore necessary to analyze the possible effects of the new federal government under Chancellor Olaf Scholz on bilateral relations with a concentrated focus on European politics.

Climate Security and Migration: An Evaluation for the World and Turkey

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 13:41:00 GMT

The negative consequences of climate change are becoming increasingly evident in environmental, economic, social, and political realms day by day, and no country in the world is exempt from these effects. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports reveal that climate change will be severe, which means that the world can expect more and more conflict. Climate migration and national security problems will emerge due to factors such as natural disasters and resource crises. This article aims to evaluate the relationship between climate change and migration and examine the consequences that may arise in the context of climate security in the world and in Turkey. We conclude that all countries will be affected equally severely, though in different ways, by the risks and consequences that will gradually emerge in the context of climate security in parallel with climate change, and that the number of climate migrants and refugees will increase globally in the coming period. Further, migration to Turkey will not only be from neighboring countries but will increase from wider geography in the future due to Turkey’s geopolitical eminence.

A More Effective Refugee Policy: Reinvestigating the Socio-Economic Composition of Syrian Refugees in Turkey

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 15:03:00 GMT

This paper analyzes the socio-economic composition of Syrian refugees in Turkey and the potential it offers for facilitating the planning of refugee policy. The most severe humanitarian crisis since WWII, the Syrian conflict has already lasted for more than 10 years. Turkey is hosting almost four million Syrians –more than any other country. Given the prolonged nature of the conflict and the slim hope of a quick resolution, various studies and reports have suggested that Turkey should develop a policy of integration. While most of the literature on Syrian refugees has categorized them as homogenous people in need, the findings from this study suggest that the socio-economic composition of Syrian refugees is diversified and can affect the kind of refugee policy that could be implemented. This paper argues that reinvestigating the group’s diversified socio-economic composition could facilitate the planning of an effective refugee policy in Turkey.

Securitization of Migration in the EU and Africa: A Case Study

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 18:03:00 GMT

The phenomenon of migration, seen at every stage of human history, became politicized after the Second World War, was restricted after the 1973 oil crisis, and was included among the various security issues after the Cold War. As a result of the 9/11 attacks and the explosions in the leading cities in Europe, migration became the focus of security policies. This study analyzes the securitization of migration from Africa to Europe as a case study through the lens of the Copenhagen School and explores the European Union’s efforts to create a common migration policy. It asks to what extent the relationship between migration and security affects these and argues that decisions taken under the influence of securitization hinder the creation of an effective immigration policy. It assesses the success or failure of these policies and asks why the unsuccessful policies failed.

‘Changed Landscape’ of an ‘Arab Place:’ A Study of an Interpellated Realm in Karmi’s Return

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 18:53:00 GMT

As the episodes of forced evictions in the environs of Jerusalem gain momentum even amidst a global pandemic at the dawn of the third decade of the twenty-first century, this paper studies the individual narrative of an anglicized Arab woman, Ghada Karmi, who was forced to leave the place of her birth and childhood more than eighty-three years ago. Engaging Althusser’s theory of ideology and interpellation, this paper examines this recurring pattern of brutal practice as an environmental ethical concern. By stating the postcolonial environmental ethic of her homeland through her latest memoir, Karmi questions unexamined idées reçues,1 preexisting units of information, that impede the process of any solution for the Palestinian predicament. Understanding the need for social justice and decolonization, as manifested in Karmi’s memoir, this conceptual paper investigates how she presents her right to return to the land of her birth, how she problematizes the ongoing marginalization, erasure, and Nakba of her land, both by external as well as internal factors, and how she states the environmental ethic of her place.

Educational and Cultural Experiences of Migrant Meskhetian Turkic Students in Turkish School Settings

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 20:37:00 GMT

The study aims to provide insights into Turkish national education policies toward immigrant communities based on the experiences of Meskhetian Turkic high school students who migrated to Turkey. The study was done qualitatively and carried out via in-depth interviews with 10 Meskhetian Turkic students attending 12th grade at various high schools in İstanbul. According to the findings of the research, students sometimes felt discriminated against and had difficulty expressing themselves because they did not know the local language. Participants perceived teachers as having an inclusive attitude but commented that they could not get enough support from the guidance service. Meskhetian students stated that they needed to be better supported financially and believe that they should be included in the school activity calendar and cultural studies to promote their culture. Educational policymakers should be aware that ensuring positive educational experiences for historically interconnected communities like Meskhetians will help future economic, social, and political cooperation.

Political Climate and the Headscarf Issue in Turkey: A Perspective from the Labor Market

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 21:44:00 GMT

This article focuses on the relationship between the socioeconomic rights of headscarved women and the political attitude of governments towards the headscarf in Turkey. Taking the 2013 removal of bans against the headscarf in the public sphere as the reference point, we attempt to provide a before-and-after comparison of the status of headscarved professionals in the Turkish labor market, based on factors in the political climate. While focusing mainly on the changing outlook in the public sector, we also examine the consequences of this liberalizing move on the private sector and explore the likely futures of the headscarf issue from a labor market perspective. Findings from the qualitative research reveal the strong influence political attitude has on the headscarf issue, as evident in the employment of headscarved women in white-collar occupations. We discovered that the political climate is still expected to be the key dynamic in Turkey that shapes the future for professionals wearing the headscarf, primarily through the channel of the state job market. This study contributes to the vast literature on women’s social and economic rights by addressing a decades-long, divisive issue that concerns a substantial segment of Turkish society.

The Problem of Overextension: Analyzing America’s Black Sea Policies through Jentleson’s 4 Ps Framework

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 20:43:00 GMT

Historically, the U.S. strategy in the Black Sea region has been stable, limited, and not ambitious as American administrations prioritized certain foreign policy objectives over other interests. This careful strategy was transformed during the Clinton Administration in the mid-1990s as the U.S. started following an extensive foreign policy framework, which included all American national interests, formulated by Bruce Jentleson in his 4Ps framework: power, peace, prosperity, and principles. The article argues that this transformation was problematic because of two obstacles –the illusion of the unipolar moment and the growing polarization in American domestic politics– which prevented the U.S. from following an effective policy in the Black Sea region.

Controversial Actor of the International System: Iran

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 20:46:00 GMT

The three works examined here deal with Iran’s interaction with the international system from a historical perspective and across many dimensions. While the structural and cyclical problems and opportunities between Iran and the international system are conveyed to the reader, analytical and theoretical dimensions are not ignored. However, the three works, due to their publication time, do not include recent developments that have turned the world system upside down ‒the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the rise of China seem to have opened the door to a multi-polar world. The effects of new developments such as advances in technology, digital diplomacy, and the Metaverse on the international system are still at the level of speculation, and Iran will take steps to adapt to this new reality. The emerging, multi-polar world will also increase Iran’s maneuverability. The new international order will open up the normative sources of Iran’s foreign policy; its structure, which is determined by factional dynamics; and its geopolitical imaginations to the discussion. There is a huge gap in the literature in this regard, and new studies are needed to fill it.

Turkey’s Electoral Geography: Trends, Behaviors and Identities

Tue, 17 May 2022 10:31:00 GMT

The most important contribution of Turkey’s Electoral Geography is that it covers not only elections but also a variety of understudied topics such as gerrymandering, gender, voting from abroad and election monitoring organizations. The methodological diversity of the book and its focus on different elements of electoral geography make the book attractive. A chapter utilizing political psychology frameworks would have been a helpful addition, since recent developments in the literature recommend psychological frameworks to extend our understanding of the Turkish party system.

Populism and the Politicization of the COVID-19 Crisis in Europe

Tue, 17 May 2022 11:03:00 GMT

Populism and the Politicization of the COVID-19 Crisis in Europe is a successful discourse analysis of populist parties. The authors’ clean organization of these exceedingly difficult and intersecting cases can serve as a useful and trustworthy guide for scholars studying different strategies of right- and left-wing populist parties and the discursive battles they wage in the context of a crisis environment. It provides a sense of why populists use this particular rhetoric and how this plays out with their core constituency. However, the analytic nature of the book places undue pressure on the authors to apply the same frame and this raises major problems that may cast doubt on the book’s central conclusion: there is little sense of the contestation and deep divides these populist strategies both tapped into and opened up further. Along with its scholarly value, the book will be of considerable interest to anybody curious about the populist parties and their reactions in a time of worldwide turmoil.

The Road Before Me Weeps: On the Refugee Road through Europe

Tue, 17 May 2022 11:35:00 GMT

Perhaps the most important shortcoming of the book is its lack of a theoretical framework. Thorpe conducted his fieldwork with great effort, spending four years in the field, and he successfully conveys his experiences to the readers. From an academic viewpoint, the lack of a theoretical framework through which to interpret this fieldwork is a fair criticism. However, when it is considered that the author is not an academician but rather a journalist, this lack may be acceptable. Despite this potential shortcoming, The Road Before Me Weeps makes a precious contribution to migration literature, as well as the literature of political science, international relations, and sociology. It deserves the attention of academicians, policymakers, and anyone interested in the sociology and politics of refuge issues.

Dünya Enerji Trendleri: Rezervler, Kaynaklar ve Politikalar (World Energy Trends: Reserves, Resources and Policies)

Tue, 17 May 2022 11:51:00 GMT

World Energy Trends presents a detailed analysis of the energy policies of significant regions. It can be considered a reference book that fills an important gap in the literature. It is hard to follow specific regions’ reserves and policies together, as there are different sections for each of the topics. The sections are designed to allow readers to compare regional resources in one section and the energy policies of the respective states in the other section. The volume contains many helpful charts and maps to elucidate the resources of the regions and their import/export rates, which can help readers easily understand the material narrated in the chapters. This book is a significant resource for readers interested in energy policies and anyone with an interest in international political and economic affairs.

Trump’s Jerusalem Move: Making Sense of U.S. Policy on the Israeli Palestinian Conflict

Tue, 17 May 2022 12:28:00 GMT

The book vividly presents the international political aspect of the topic and does not abstain from touching on social and internal affairs when necessary. However, the latter are not sufficiently analyzed. Nonetheless, Trump’s Jerusalem Move involves significant analysis, gives broad background, and adopts an aggregated approach toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the context of Trump’s Jerusalem move. I believe that this book will serve as an essential contribution to the literature and help us understand the controversial atmosphere of al-Aqsa. I strongly recommend this well-r researched volume to researchers, students, and anyone who desires to understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a comprehensive way from the perspective of Trump’s declaration.

Turkish History and Culture in India: Identity, Art, and Transregional Connections

Tue, 17 May 2022 12:47:00 GMT

Turkish History and Culture in India can be understood as having erred on the side of global history, rather than choosing a very definite range of research to which more definite answers can be found, as the chapters represent a wide array of topics and approaches. This gives rise to a book that bears more questions than answers–but this is by no means a bad thing. The field overall is understudied, and it is particularly in these global connections that this neglect is most striking. By gambling on big rather than small, the authors have produced a valuable collection of scholarship that promises leads and new questions to inspire a broad range of readers, whether their interests be Turkish identity, the Islamicate world, Indian history, cultural syncretism, or any of the other myriad entryways opened here.

Exit from Hegemony: The Unraveling of the American Global Order

Tue, 17 May 2022 13:02:00 GMT

Exit from Hegemony succeeds in presenting a complicated subject with an explanatory theoretical framework and empirical investigation. By illustratively framing the subject, the authors stimulate readers to deep dive into the subject, and the plain language of the book appeals to a wider audience interested in international relations.

The Political and Economic History of North Cyprus: A Discordant Polity

Wed, 18 May 2022 20:03:00 GMT

The Political and Economic History of North Cyprus: A Discordant Polity provides the reader with a comprehensive analysis of the “discordant” economic development of northern Cyprus. It is an invaluable contribution to Cyprus studies and an essential book for an introduction to the political economy of the TRNC. It could be a handbook for those studying the politics of Cyprus as well as those interested in the economic relations between Turkey and North Cyprus.

The Liberal International Theory Tradition in Europe

Wed, 18 May 2022 21:57:00 GMT

The Liberal International Theory Tradition in Europe promotes liberalism and revives its classical IR tradition, predominantly by presenting liberalism in constructive ways but only with regard to the historical context of Europe in the last 100 years. Thus, this monograph can be criticized for not being objective as it ignores significant critiques of the classical liberal tradition; for instance, the critique that the tradition is incompetent in dealing with religious and cultural differences domestically and internationally.

Syria and the Neutrality Trap: Dilemmas of Delivering Humanitarian Aid through Violent Regimes

Wed, 18 May 2022 22:09:00 GMT

The book can be very beneficial for those who study international relations and international law or who work in these fields both as an academician or bureaucrats such as diplomats. As a former diplomat himself, the author wonderfully reflects the humanitarian situation in Syria and its reel-politic dimension and that is the main strength of the book as it is hard for academicians to grasp the practice as they are generally more focused on the theories. In my opinion, for these reasons, all related students, researchers, and bureaucrats who have any interest in humanitarian issues and the Syrian conflict should read the book and get their share from this well-designed and insightful piece of work.

Web Panel | Climate Change and Migration

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 13:01:00 GMT

Following the publication of the Winter 2021 special issue, "Climate Change and Migration," Insight Turkey organized a panel attended by academics who are experts in the field and examined the issue in depth.

Web Panel | On Climate Migration Exploring Cases from Türkiye and Beyond

Wed, 17 May 2023 16:30:00 GMT

After the Winter 2022 Issue on Climate Change and Migration was released, Insight Turkey organized an online where experts discussed climate migration with a focus on cases from Turkey and beyond. As the Insight Turkey team, we hope that the panel's comments are informative and provide a better knowledge of the issues at hand. A video of the entire panel session is available on our YouTube channel