Our Future Has Always Been Ruined

The migration following the war that started in Syria in 2011 led to significant changes in the demographic, economic and cultural structure of cities in Turkey. Especially cities close to the Syrian border were faced with a refugee population above their capacity. Such large migrations are not events that occur frequently in human history. It is also an intellectual responsibility to address the consequences and relationship networks caused by such a once-in-a-century social event. In this one and a half year study, which is based on data obtained through in-depth face-to-face interviews with 115 interviewees, participatory observations and document reviews, A. Çağlar Deniz, Yusuf Ekinci and A. Banu Hülür try to understand the relationship of Syrians living in cities with the local people and answer some questions in this study. It seeks an answer: How does the arrival of a large number of immigrants, who will affect the city culture in a short time, in a society where a settled culture exists, affect daily life? What do refugees do to hold on to life in a city they are strangers to, and what tactics do they develop while holding on to life? What are the reasons for the adaptation problem faced by Syrian refugees, specifically in Gaziantep and Kilis? What are the positive and negative opinions about Syrian refugees among the people of these two cities? In what areas do these convictions come into contact with "strategy"? Do these convictions foster conflict or harmony? Does the administrative structure's view of refugees correspond to a situation of "exception"? Can the "simulation" created around refugees continue to produce the truth in the last instance, or has it turned into a practice in which the truth defeats itself? The daily life of refugees, how they hold on to life, the survival tactics they have developed, their ways of earning a living, their relationships with each other and with Turkish citizens, their level of learning Turkish, how they handle the issue of education, how they deal with the legal regulations they encounter, their connections with their relatives and acquaintances who continue to live in Syria. Studies on this subject are needed. In order to fill such a gap in the literature, this study aims to focus on the daily life experiences of Syrian refugees and their practices of clinging to daily life. It is necessary to listen to the following words of Emced from Aleppo, which is also the subject of the book's title: "There was strife in Syria, a war broke out. I think my youth was stolen, our future was ruined and gone."
(From the Promotional Bulletin)



Number of Pages: 238

Year of Printing: 2016


Language: Turkish
Publisher: Istanbul Bilgi University Publications

First Publication Year: 2016

Number of Pages: 238

Language: Turkish