Social Networking in Forced Migration: The Case of Şanlıurfa City

Turkey has been undergoing a mass migration since 2011 due to internal turmoil and violence in Syria. Millions of people have been forced to enter Turkey, having been displaced. Syrian asylum seekers, who are under temporary protection in Turkey, mostly live in border provinces and metropolitan areas. Şanlıurfa ranks first among these provinces, with nearly half a million refugees. In the interest of effectively managing this influx, it is vital to analyze and understand the migration process for asylum seekers. This study aims to explain the migration process of Syrian asylum seekers to Şanlıurfa using the theory of social networking. In this context, the forced migration process experienced by asylum seekers, the reasons for choosing to live in Şanlıurfa, their lifestyles, future intentions and the problems experienced due to forced migration are discussed. The data for this study were collected using a qualitative research method, whereby semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 Syrian families throughout April and May 2021. The data obtained from these interviews were then analyzed. Although Syrian asylum seekers have to leave their country forcibly, it has been revealed that they use social networks consisting of relatives, friends, and acquaintances to help them determine their plan of action during the migration process. It has been observed that asylum seekers who migrated prior guided and assisted the new comers during the migration processes. This situation has contributed to the facilitating of further immigration throughout certain regions of Turkey.