Emplacement Processes of Syrian Refugees in the Context of Migration, Religion and Space

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

The article analyses the mass movement of Syrians caused by the 2011 protests and civil war. Turkey hosts millions because of proximity and an open-door policy. Migration studies generally look at the issue from the perspective of the host society or state, using the concepts of adaptation and integration. This research uses the concept of “emplacement” as an analytic framework, focusing on the migrants/refugees’ experiences to understand how religious resources function during the refugee resettlement process. The data for this study came from 20 articles in the TR Index on Syrian refugees and religion, using a qualitative method. The data was analysed using content analysis. The research questions were: What is the role of spaces in the process of “emplacement” of refugees? And, what is the role of religious resources in the transformation of spaces? The study shows how refugees change spaces such as mosques, associations and homes through religious resources in their new environment, but prejudicial attitudes and discrimination make the “emplacement” process harder. This article aims to contribute to the field of migration studies by highlighting the interplay between religious resources and the process of refugee “emplacement”.