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

Year 2025, Issue: 16, 91 - 126, 29.07.2025

Hatice Ekici

https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1675055

Abstract

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.

Keywords

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

Ethical Statement

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

References

  • Akçapar, S. K., Simsek, D. (2018). The politics of Syrian refugees in Turkey: a question of inclusion and exclusion through citizenship, Social Inclusion, 6(1), 176-187. Doi: https://doi.org/ 10.17645/si.v6i1.1323
  • Al Husein, N., Wagner, N. (2023). Determinants of intended return migration among refugees: A comparison of Syrian refugees in Germany and Turkey, International Migration Review, 57(4), 1771-1805.
  • Al-Ali, N., Black, R., Koser, K. (2001). Refugees and transnationalism: The experience of Bosnians and Eritreans in Europe, Journal of Ethnic and Migration studies, 27(4), 615-634.
  • Al-Rasheed, M. (1994). The myth of return: Iraqi Arab and Assayrian refugees in London, Journal of Refugee Studies, 7(2–3), 199-219. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/7.2-3.199
  • Baban, F., Ilcan, S. ve Rygiel, K. (2017). Syrian refugees in Turkey: Pathways to precarity, diferential inclusion, and negotiated citizenship rights, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 43(1), 41-57. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2016.1192996
  • Balcılar, M., Nugent, J. B. (2019). The migration of fear: An analysis of migration choices of Syrian refugees, The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 73, 95-110.
  • Berry, J. W. (2005). Acculturation: Living Successfully in Two Cultures, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29, 697-712.
  • Bradley, M. (2008). Back to basics: The conditions of just refugee returns, Journal of Refugee Studies, 21(3), 285-304. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fen023
  • Carling, J., Collins, F. (2018). Aspiration, desire and drivers of migration, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 44(6), 909-926.
  • Cassarino, J. P. (2004). Theorising return migration: The conceptual approach to return migrants revisited, International Journal on Multicultural Societies, 6(2), 253-279.
  • Cassarino, J. P. (2008). Conditions of modern return migrants–Editorial introduction, International Journal on Multicultural Societies, 10(2), 95-105.
  • Chatty, D. (2017). The Syrian humanitarian disaster: Understanding perceptions and aspirations in Jordan, Global Policy, 8, 25-32. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12390
  • Chemin, J. E. (2016). Guests-hosts relations in the context of the Syrian exodus: A study of Turkish and Syrian populations in two Turkish cities, Middle East Journal of Refugee Studies, 1(2), 49-74. Doi: https://doi.org/10.12738/mejrs.2016.1.2.0003
  • De Haas, H., Fokkema, T. (2011). The effect of integration and transnational ties on international return migration intentons. Demographic Research, 25, 755-782. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2011.25.24
  • Di Saint Pierre, F., Martinovic, B. ve De Vroome, T. (2015). Return wishes of refugees in the Netherlands: The role of integration, host national identification and perceived discrimination, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 41(11), 1836-1857.
  • Dustmann, C., Weiss, Y. (2007). Return migration: theory and empirical evidence from the UK, British Journal of Industrial Relations, 45(2), 236-256.
  • Engzell, P., M. Ichou. 2019. Status Loss: The Burden of Positively Selected Immigrants, International Migration Review, 54, 471-95.
  • Erdogan, M. M. (2014). Syrians in Turkey: Social acceptance and integration research, Hacettepe University Migration and Politics Research Center.
  • Erdoğan, M. M. (2019). Syrian Refugees in Turkey, Istanbul: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
  • Erdoğan, M. M. (2020). Suriyeliler Barometresi-2019: Suriyelilerle Uyum İçinde Yaşamın Çerçevesi, Orion Kitabevi.
  • Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı. (2025b, 19 Mayıs). Geçici Koruma. https://www.goc.gov.tr/gecici-koruma5638
  • Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı. (2025b, 20 Şubat). Gönüllü, güvenli, düzenli ve onurlu geri dönüş. https://www.goc.gov.tr/gonullu-geri-donus
  • İçduygu, A., Nimer, M. (2020). The politics of return: exploring the future of Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, Third World Quarterly, 41(3), 415-433.
  • İneli-Ciğer, M. (2016). Uluslararası hukuka uygun geçici koruma rejiminin unsurları üzerine, Göç Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3, 62-92.
  • Karooma, C. (2014, 27 Mart). Reluctant to return? The primacy of social networks in the repatriation of Rwandan refugees in Uganda. https://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/files/files-1/wp103-reluctant-toreturn-2014.pdf
  • Kaya, M. (2022). İnanç temelli Suriyeli mülteci topluluklarda geri dönüş eğilimleri, İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 21(Özel Sayı), 74-89.
  • Kaya, S., Orchard, P. (2020). Prospects of return: The case of Syrian refugees in Germany, Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 18(1), 95-112.
  • Kayaoglu, A., Şahin-Mencütek, Z. ve Erdoğan, M. M. (2022). Return aspirations of Syrian refugees in Turkey, Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 20(4), 561-583.
  • Koca, B. T. (2016). Syrian refugees in Turkey: from “guests” to “enemies”?, New perspectives on Turkey, 54, 55-75.
  • Koser, K., Kuschminder, K. (2015). Comparative research on the assisted voluntary return and reintegration of migrants, International Organization for Migration (IOM), 343.
  • Kuschminder, K., Koser, K. (2017). The role of migration-specific and migration-relevant policies in migrant decision-making in transit, UNU-MERIT Working Papers, 22.
  • Mencütek, Z. S. (2019). Encouraging Syrian return: Turkey’s fragmented approach, Forced Migration Review, 62, 28-31.
  • Müller-Funk, L., Fransen, S. (2023). “I Will Return Strong”: The Role of Life Aspirations in Refugees’ Return Aspirations, International Migration Review, 57(4), 1739-1770.
  • Naderifar, M., Goli, H. ve Ghaljaie, F. (2017). Snowball sampling: A purposeful method of sampling in qualitative research. Strides in development of medical education, 14(3), 1-4.
  • Omata, N. (2013). The complexity of refugees' return decision-making in a protracted exile: Beyond the home-coming model and durable solutions, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 39(8), 1281-1297.
  • Özkan, Z., Ergün, N. ve Çakal, H. (2021). Positive versus negative contact and refugees’ intentions to migrate: The mediating role of perceived discrimination, life satisfaction and identifcation with the host society among Syrian refugees in Turkey, Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 31(4), 438-451. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2508
  • Özkan, Z., Eryılmaz, A. ve Ergün, N. (2023). Intentions to return and migrate to the Third Countries: A socio-demographic investigation among Syrians in Turkey, Journal of International Migration and Integration, 24(4), 1571-1587.
  • Reuters (2025, 9 Aralık). Syrian rebels topple Assad who flees to Russia in Mideast shakeup. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-rebels-celebrate-captured-homs-set-sights-damascus-2024-12-07/
  • Rottmann, S., Kaya, A. (2021). ‘We can’t integrate in Europe. We will pay a high price if we go there’: culture, time and migration aspirations for Syrian refugees in Istanbul, Journal of Refugee Studies, 34(1), 474-490.
  • Sönmez, M. E., Şahin, Ş. (2021). Gaziantep’teki Suriyeli sığınmacıların etnik kökenlerine göre geri dönüş eğilimleri, Gaziantep Üniversitesi Ayıntab Araştırmaları Dergisi, 4(1), 37-51.
  • Turton, T., P. Marsden (2002, Aralık). Taking Refugees for a Ride? The politics of refugee return to Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU). https://www. refworld.org/pdfid/47c3f3cb1a.pdf
  • UNHCR. (2020). Operational Portal Refugee Situations- Syria Regional Refugee Response.https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria#_ga=2.212902994.738650370.1535310081- 842059014.1521129878
  • UNHCR. (2021a). Syria Emergency. https://www.unhcr.org/syria-emergency.html
  • UNHCR. (2021b). Sixth Regional Survey on Syrian Refugees’ Perceptions and Intentions on Return to Syria - Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan – March 2021. https://data2.unhcr.org/ en/documents/download/85739
  • Valenta, M., Jakobsen, J., Župarić-Iljić, D. vd. (2020). Syrian refugee migration, transitions in migrant statuses and future scenarios of Syrian mobility, Refugee Survey Quarterly, 39(2), 153-176.
  • Wissink, M., Düvell, F. ve Van Eerdewijk, A. (2013). Dynamic migration intentions and the impact of socio-institutional environments: A transit migration hub in Turkey, Journal of Ethnic and Migration studies, 39(7), 1087-1105.
  • World Bank. (2020). The Mobility of Displaced Syrians: An Economic and Social Analysis.

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

Year 2025, Issue: 16, 91 - 126, 29.07.2025

Hatice Ekici

https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1675055

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Turkey Syrian Migration Return Migration Return Intention Policy Implication.

Ethical Statement

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.

References

  • Akçapar, S. K., Simsek, D. (2018). The politics of Syrian refugees in Turkey: a question of inclusion and exclusion through citizenship, Social Inclusion, 6(1), 176-187. Doi: https://doi.org/ 10.17645/si.v6i1.1323
  • Al Husein, N., Wagner, N. (2023). Determinants of intended return migration among refugees: A comparison of Syrian refugees in Germany and Turkey, International Migration Review, 57(4), 1771-1805.
  • Al-Ali, N., Black, R., Koser, K. (2001). Refugees and transnationalism: The experience of Bosnians and Eritreans in Europe, Journal of Ethnic and Migration studies, 27(4), 615-634.
  • Al-Rasheed, M. (1994). The myth of return: Iraqi Arab and Assayrian refugees in London, Journal of Refugee Studies, 7(2–3), 199-219. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/7.2-3.199
  • Baban, F., Ilcan, S. ve Rygiel, K. (2017). Syrian refugees in Turkey: Pathways to precarity, diferential inclusion, and negotiated citizenship rights, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 43(1), 41-57. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2016.1192996
  • Balcılar, M., Nugent, J. B. (2019). The migration of fear: An analysis of migration choices of Syrian refugees, The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 73, 95-110.
  • Berry, J. W. (2005). Acculturation: Living Successfully in Two Cultures, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29, 697-712.
  • Bradley, M. (2008). Back to basics: The conditions of just refugee returns, Journal of Refugee Studies, 21(3), 285-304. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/jrs/fen023
  • Carling, J., Collins, F. (2018). Aspiration, desire and drivers of migration, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 44(6), 909-926.
  • Cassarino, J. P. (2004). Theorising return migration: The conceptual approach to return migrants revisited, International Journal on Multicultural Societies, 6(2), 253-279.
  • Cassarino, J. P. (2008). Conditions of modern return migrants–Editorial introduction, International Journal on Multicultural Societies, 10(2), 95-105.
  • Chatty, D. (2017). The Syrian humanitarian disaster: Understanding perceptions and aspirations in Jordan, Global Policy, 8, 25-32. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12390
  • Chemin, J. E. (2016). Guests-hosts relations in the context of the Syrian exodus: A study of Turkish and Syrian populations in two Turkish cities, Middle East Journal of Refugee Studies, 1(2), 49-74. Doi: https://doi.org/10.12738/mejrs.2016.1.2.0003
  • De Haas, H., Fokkema, T. (2011). The effect of integration and transnational ties on international return migration intentons. Demographic Research, 25, 755-782. Doi: https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2011.25.24
  • Di Saint Pierre, F., Martinovic, B. ve De Vroome, T. (2015). Return wishes of refugees in the Netherlands: The role of integration, host national identification and perceived discrimination, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 41(11), 1836-1857.
  • Dustmann, C., Weiss, Y. (2007). Return migration: theory and empirical evidence from the UK, British Journal of Industrial Relations, 45(2), 236-256.
  • Engzell, P., M. Ichou. 2019. Status Loss: The Burden of Positively Selected Immigrants, International Migration Review, 54, 471-95.
  • Erdogan, M. M. (2014). Syrians in Turkey: Social acceptance and integration research, Hacettepe University Migration and Politics Research Center.
  • Erdoğan, M. M. (2019). Syrian Refugees in Turkey, Istanbul: Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
  • Erdoğan, M. M. (2020). Suriyeliler Barometresi-2019: Suriyelilerle Uyum İçinde Yaşamın Çerçevesi, Orion Kitabevi.
  • Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı. (2025b, 19 Mayıs). Geçici Koruma. https://www.goc.gov.tr/gecici-koruma5638
  • Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı. (2025b, 20 Şubat). Gönüllü, güvenli, düzenli ve onurlu geri dönüş. https://www.goc.gov.tr/gonullu-geri-donus
  • İçduygu, A., Nimer, M. (2020). The politics of return: exploring the future of Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, Third World Quarterly, 41(3), 415-433.
  • İneli-Ciğer, M. (2016). Uluslararası hukuka uygun geçici koruma rejiminin unsurları üzerine, Göç Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3, 62-92.
  • Karooma, C. (2014, 27 Mart). Reluctant to return? The primacy of social networks in the repatriation of Rwandan refugees in Uganda. https://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/files/files-1/wp103-reluctant-toreturn-2014.pdf
  • Kaya, M. (2022). İnanç temelli Suriyeli mülteci topluluklarda geri dönüş eğilimleri, İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 21(Özel Sayı), 74-89.
  • Kaya, S., Orchard, P. (2020). Prospects of return: The case of Syrian refugees in Germany, Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 18(1), 95-112.
  • Kayaoglu, A., Şahin-Mencütek, Z. ve Erdoğan, M. M. (2022). Return aspirations of Syrian refugees in Turkey, Journal of Immigrant & Refugee Studies, 20(4), 561-583.
  • Koca, B. T. (2016). Syrian refugees in Turkey: from “guests” to “enemies”?, New perspectives on Turkey, 54, 55-75.
  • Koser, K., Kuschminder, K. (2015). Comparative research on the assisted voluntary return and reintegration of migrants, International Organization for Migration (IOM), 343.
  • Kuschminder, K., Koser, K. (2017). The role of migration-specific and migration-relevant policies in migrant decision-making in transit, UNU-MERIT Working Papers, 22.
  • Mencütek, Z. S. (2019). Encouraging Syrian return: Turkey’s fragmented approach, Forced Migration Review, 62, 28-31.
  • Müller-Funk, L., Fransen, S. (2023). “I Will Return Strong”: The Role of Life Aspirations in Refugees’ Return Aspirations, International Migration Review, 57(4), 1739-1770.
  • Naderifar, M., Goli, H. ve Ghaljaie, F. (2017). Snowball sampling: A purposeful method of sampling in qualitative research. Strides in development of medical education, 14(3), 1-4.
  • Omata, N. (2013). The complexity of refugees' return decision-making in a protracted exile: Beyond the home-coming model and durable solutions, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 39(8), 1281-1297.
  • Özkan, Z., Ergün, N. ve Çakal, H. (2021). Positive versus negative contact and refugees’ intentions to migrate: The mediating role of perceived discrimination, life satisfaction and identifcation with the host society among Syrian refugees in Turkey, Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 31(4), 438-451. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2508
  • Özkan, Z., Eryılmaz, A. ve Ergün, N. (2023). Intentions to return and migrate to the Third Countries: A socio-demographic investigation among Syrians in Turkey, Journal of International Migration and Integration, 24(4), 1571-1587.
  • Reuters (2025, 9 Aralık). Syrian rebels topple Assad who flees to Russia in Mideast shakeup. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-rebels-celebrate-captured-homs-set-sights-damascus-2024-12-07/
  • Rottmann, S., Kaya, A. (2021). ‘We can’t integrate in Europe. We will pay a high price if we go there’: culture, time and migration aspirations for Syrian refugees in Istanbul, Journal of Refugee Studies, 34(1), 474-490.
  • Sönmez, M. E., Şahin, Ş. (2021). Gaziantep’teki Suriyeli sığınmacıların etnik kökenlerine göre geri dönüş eğilimleri, Gaziantep Üniversitesi Ayıntab Araştırmaları Dergisi, 4(1), 37-51.
  • Turton, T., P. Marsden (2002, Aralık). Taking Refugees for a Ride? The politics of refugee return to Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU). https://www. refworld.org/pdfid/47c3f3cb1a.pdf
  • UNHCR. (2020). Operational Portal Refugee Situations- Syria Regional Refugee Response.https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria#_ga=2.212902994.738650370.1535310081- 842059014.1521129878
  • UNHCR. (2021a). Syria Emergency. https://www.unhcr.org/syria-emergency.html
  • UNHCR. (2021b). Sixth Regional Survey on Syrian Refugees’ Perceptions and Intentions on Return to Syria - Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan – March 2021. https://data2.unhcr.org/ en/documents/download/85739
  • Valenta, M., Jakobsen, J., Župarić-Iljić, D. vd. (2020). Syrian refugee migration, transitions in migrant statuses and future scenarios of Syrian mobility, Refugee Survey Quarterly, 39(2), 153-176.
  • Wissink, M., Düvell, F. ve Van Eerdewijk, A. (2013). Dynamic migration intentions and the impact of socio-institutional environments: A transit migration hub in Turkey, Journal of Ethnic and Migration studies, 39(7), 1087-1105.
  • World Bank. (2020). The Mobility of Displaced Syrians: An Economic and Social Analysis.
There are 47 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects Migration Sociology
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Hatice Ekici 0000-0002-8032-9708

Early Pub Date July 7, 2025
Publication Date July 29, 2025
Submission Date April 13, 2025
Acceptance Date May 27, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Issue: 16

Cite

APA Ekici, H. (2025). Türkiye’de Yaşayan Suriyelilerin Geri Dönüş Niyetlerine Yön Veren Faktörler ve Değerlendirmeler. İmgelem(16), 91-126. https://doi.org/10.53791/imgelem.1675055
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