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

Abstract

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.