M.A. Thesis Defense: Beyza Özen

We cordially invite you to

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Master of Arts Thesis Defense of  Beyza Özen (Conflict Analysis and Resolution).

SYRIANS IN THE TURKISH LABOR MARKET: A SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL

ANALYSIS OF TURKISH EMPLOYEES’ PERCEPTION OF SYRIAN WORKERS IN IZMIR

Thesis Jury:

• Prof. Ayşe Betül Çelik (Thesis advisor)
• Assoc. Prof. Ayşe Gül Altınay
  
• Assoc. Prof. Deniz Şenol Sert (Özyeğin  University, International Relations)

Date & Time :June 13, 2016 & 14:30

Place: Karaköy Minerva Han

Keywords: Syrian immigration, host perception, Turkish employee, social psychology, descriptive method

This study aims to make a contribution to the narrowly-studied dimension of the Syrian immigration in Turkey. It examines the perception of the natives towards Syrians from a social- psychological perspective. In order to analyze Turkish employee perception of Syrians, descriptive research methodology is applied. Data of the study are obtained by semi-structured, face to face, in-depth interviews with 20 Turkish employees currently working along with Syrian immigrants in their workplaces in Basmane, Izmir. Basmane, a region that has received Syrian refugees at an unprecedented rate over the past five years, is the context of the study. Findings of the study suggest that, Turkish employees’ perceptions about Syrians vary and depend mostly upon their in-group and out-group identifications; deep-rooted causes of anxiety, fear and threat; group boundaries (permeable or not); their assessments regarding the social, political and economic rights offered to Syrians by the Turkish state. Among these factors, degree of importance attributed to national identity of the respondents and their position in their workplaces are found to be heavily influential in the expression of negative attitudes towards Syrians. Perceptions of the Turks are found to be shaped independently by their age, sex, education level and the time spent in face to face contact with Syrians.