Research

My research is rooted in the study of refugee migration, examining it within the broader framework of human rights, governance, society, and geopolitics. I broadly focus on the twin questions of “How do citizens become refugees?” and “How do refugees become citizens or not?”  My research agenda has three pillars.

1.     Refugee, International Migration, Politics, and Life in Transition: 

My primary research focuses on the nexus of international migration and politics, exploring their profound impacts on refugee populations. I investigate these complex dynamics from two main perspectives: the factors driving refugee migration and the responses it elicits. Additionally, I analyze how international relations frameworks shape these responses, shedding light on the underlying geopolitical dimensions at play.

Book Project: Refugee Governance in the Middle East: A Comparative Historical Analysis

This study traces the evolution of refugee policies from the Ottoman Empire to contemporary Turkey. A detailed examination of policy provides insight into the continuities and changes in history, sociology, and international relations. Data collection for this project involved archival research, interviews, and analysis of policy documents conducted in Turkey, Brussels/Belgium, and Geneva/Switzerland.

2. From Citizens to Refugees: Human Rights, Authoritarianism, and Populism

My secondary research explores the ramifications of populist and authoritarian political regimes on human rights, frequently leading to the involuntary displacement of individuals from their homes, transforming them from citizens into refugees. This investigation seeks to understand how these political dynamics contribute to the destabilization of communities and the exacerbation of humanitarian crises, highlighting the intersection of political ideologies, human rights abuses, and forced migration.

3. Critical Reflections on Migration Literature

 As a researcher, I strive to acknowledge biases in data and assumptions inherent in my work. The field of international migration literature significantly influences and is influenced by inequalities within the global state system and society. This literature's knowledge and data play a crucial role in policy-making, potentially perpetuating inequalities by omitting marginalized voices from data and resource allocation. Therefore, my research critically examines the production of knowledge within migration literature, aiming to highlight and address these issues.

Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters

Refugees in Global South, The SAGE Encyclopedia of Refugee Studies (Forthcoming, July 2024).

"Local and National: the rise of populism and foreign policy as a two-dimensional process in Turkey." In Populism and Human Rights in Turbulent Era, edited by Alison Byrsk. Edward Elgar..

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With Mackreath, H., Gungor, M.U. 2017. "Civil Society and Syrian Refugees in Turkey: A Human Security Perspective." In Syrian Communities in Turkey: Today and Tomorrow, edited by I. Sirkeci, D. Eroglu, and O. Unutulmaz..

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"Contributor or Barrier: The Role of the Kurdish Diaspora in Turkey's EU Accession Process." In Conflict, Insecurity and Mobility, edited by I. Sirkeci, J.H. Cohen, and P. Yazgan. Transnational Press London, January 13, 2016.

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