Research Information System
The Migration Conference 2018, Lisbon, Portugal, 26 - 28 June 2018, pp.260
Abstract
In its various aspects, the subject of “belonging” has been an important fundamental indicator in terms of understanding “social belonging relations”
throughout the history of mankind. This study focuses on the Meskhetian
Turks who have immigrated to Turkey since 1992. Using the selected sample
below, it considers the Meskhetian Turks’ choice of a preferred motherland,
Turkey, or their own Meskhetian Territories with regard to social belonging.
The research also questions the role of Turkish Governments during the period 1992-2017 who as decision-makers in matters of “immigration administration” “encouraged” or “discouraged” the Meskhetian Turks to enter Turkey. In addition, the level of public awareness drawn by the Meskhetian
Turks’ recently increasing rates of arrival in Turkey along with the subject of
their social adaption to local public life will be questioned through in-depth
interviews. Moreover, on a broader level, the emotions of the Meskhetian
Turks towards spatial belonging will be scrutinized. And in the final analysis,
the content of this paper examines the general question of “motherland” belonging, which is claimed to exist amongst the Meskhetian Turks both towards Turkey and the Meskhetian territories.
Keywords
Identity Belonging, Meskhetian Turks, Immigration Administration, Social
Belonging, Spatial Belonging