How Turkish citizens perceive Syrian refugees in Turkey

Abstract

Abstract Turkey is the largest refugee host country in the world with about 3.5 million registered Syrian refugees. In this study, we explored intergroup relations between Syrian refugees and Turks in Turkey. We focused on how Turkish people perceived Syrian refugees in Turkey and how these two groups interacted daily. We used an adaptation of McAdams’ Life Story Interview and asked questions about Syrian refugees in the Turkish context. Using this open-ended, qualitative interviewing technique allowed us to understand how Turks and Syrians interacted on a daily basis and what shaped Turkish people’s perceptions about refugees. We conducted a narrative analysis based on agency and communion themes. Results showed that age of participant was negatively correlated with communion, whereas education of participant was positively correlated with agency. Agency and communion positively correlated with each other. Narratives reflected a range of reflections Turkish citizens had about the large influx of Syrian refugees.