Rethinking Turkey’s Refugee and Asylum Policy

Mehmet Kocaoglu

Article Details

Rethinking Turkey’s Refugee and Asylum Policy

Authors:

Mehmet Kocaoglu

Publisher:

Inonu University

Main Topics:

Türk Siyasal Hayatı

Journal:

İnönü Üniversitesi Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 1, pp.242-256

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001351189

pISSN:

2147-0936

Keywords:

Abstract:

 The Syrian Civil War led to an explosion of asylum seekers, the largest seen in the 21st century. The number of persons fleeing, coupled with the rate at which they crossed international borders, have earned this outflow the title of a crisis. Although the current crisis is distinct from the one produced during the World War II, the international reaction to it is disturbingly familiar. In the wake of this crisis, many states introduced new or altered existing refugee or asylum policies. The pattern of policies, though seemingly outside the framework of international law on refugees and asylum seekers, falls well within it. In the context of the recent crisis, the uncaring reactions from governments not only stem from several self-interested policies but also from the international refugee and asylum legal system. This article explores how Turkeys refugee and asylum policy evolved. Turkey has recently introduced a new comprehensive policy that establishes an institutional framework for dealing with refugee and asylum seekers flows. The focus of the article is on laws and regulations that the Turkish government has passed in recent years. First, it explains how the international refugee and asylum system is based on national security concern. It suggests that the shortcomings within the current international refugee and asylum system pave the way for states to neglect human security. Second, it addresses the steps taken by the Turkish government regarding refugees and asylum seekers. It argues that the Turkish laws and regulations are in line with the current refugee and asylum system that gives priority to national security over human security.

 The Syrian Civil War led to an explosion of asylum seekers, the largest seen in the 21st century. The number of persons fleeing, coupled with the rate at which they crossed international borders, have earned this outflow the title of a crisis. Although the current crisis is distinct from the one produced during the World War II, the international reaction to it is disturbingly familiar. In the wake of this crisis, many states introduced new or altered existing refugee or asylum policies. The pattern of policies, though seemingly outside the framework of international law on refugees and asylum seekers, falls well within it. In the context of the recent crisis, the uncaring reactions from governments not only stem from several self-interested policies but also from the international refugee and asylum legal system. This article explores how Turkeys refugee and asylum policy evolved. Turkey has recently introduced a new comprehensive policy that establishes an institutional framework for dealing with refugee and asylum seekers flows. The focus of the article is on laws and regulations that the Turkish government has passed in recent years. First, it explains how the international refugee and asylum system is based on national security concern. It suggests that the shortcomings within the current international refugee and asylum system pave the way for states to neglect human security. Second, it addresses the steps taken by the Turkish government regarding refugees and asylum seekers. It argues that the Turkish laws and regulations are in line with the current refugee and asylum system that gives priority to national security over human security.

 The Syrian Civil War led to an explosion of asylum seekers, the largest seen in the 21st century. The number of persons fleeing, coupled with the rate at which they crossed international borders, have earned this outflow the title of a crisis. Although the current crisis is distinct from the one produced during the World War II, the international reaction to it is disturbingly familiar. In the wake of this crisis, many states introduced new or altered existing refugee or asylum policies. The pattern of policies, though seemingly outside the framework of international law on refugees and asylum seekers, falls well within it. In the context of the recent crisis, the uncaring reactions from governments not only stem from several self-interested policies but also from the international refugee and asylum legal system. This article explores how Turkeys refugee and asylum policy evolved. Turkey has recently introduced a new comprehensive policy that establishes an institutional framework for dealing with refugee and asylum seekers flows. The focus of the article is on laws and regulations that the Turkish government has passed in recent years. First, it explains how the international refugee and asylum system is based on national security concern. It suggests that the shortcomings within the current international refugee and asylum system pave the way for states to neglect human security. Second, it addresses the steps taken by the Turkish government regarding refugees and asylum seekers. It argues that the Turkish laws and regulations are in line with the current refugee and asylum system that gives priority to national security over human security.

 Suriye İç Savaşı, 21. yüzyılda görülen en büyük sığınmacı patlamasına yol açmıştır. Kaçan kişilerin sayısı ve bunların uluslararası sınırları geçme hızı birleştiğinde, bu durum bir krize evrilmiştir. Mevcut kriz, İkinci Dünya Savaşı sırasında ortaya çıkan krizden farklı olsa da buna yönelik uluslararası tepki büyük ölçüde tanıdıktır. Bu krizin ardından birçok devlet mülteci ve sığınma politikalarını değiştirmiştir. Bu politikalar, mülteci ve sığınmacılara ilişkin uluslararası hukuk çerçevesinin dışında görünse de aslında uluslararası hukuka uygun görünmektedir. Devletlerin bu tepkileri yalnızca kendi çıkarlarına yönelik politikalardan değil, aynı zamanda mültecilik ve sığınmaya ilişkin uluslararası hukuk mevzuatından kaynaklanmaktadır. Bu makale, Türkiyenin mülteci ve sığınmacı politikasında yaşanan dönüşümü analiz etmektedir. Türkiye son yıllarda mülteci ve sığınmacı akınlarını düzenlemeye yönelik kurumsal bir çerçeve oluşturan yeni ve kapsamlı bir politika uygulamaya koymuştur. Türk hükümetinin son yıllarda çıkardığı yasalar ve düzenlemeler çalışmanın odak noktasını oluşturmaktadır. İlk olarak çalışma, uluslararası mülteci ve sığınmacı sisteminin ulusal güvenlik kaygısına dayandığını açıklamaktadır. Bu noktada çalışma, mevcut uluslararası mülteci ve sığınmacı sistemindeki eksikliklerin, devletlerin insan güvenliğini ihmal etmesinin önünü açtığı iddia etmektedir. İkinci olarak çalışma, Türk hükümetinin ulusal güvenliğe öncelik verirken mülteciler ve sığınmacılara yönelik attığı adımları analiz etmektedir. Bu çalışma, Türkiyedeki hukuki düzenlemelerin ulusal güvenliğe öncelik veren mevcut uluslararası mülteci ve sığınmacı sistemiyle uyumlu olduğunu savunmaktadır.

Article Details

Rethinking Turkey’s Refugee and Asylum Policy

Authors:

Mehmet Kocaoglu

Publisher:

Inonu University

Main Topics:

Türk Siyasal Hayatı

Journal:

İnönü Üniversitesi Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 1, pp.242-256

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001351189

pISSN:

2147-0936

Refugee

Asylum Seeker

Human Security

National Security

Türkiyemülteci

sığınmacı

insan güvenliği

ulusal güvenlik

türkiye

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Mehmet Kocaoglu

Publisher: Inonu University

Main Topics: Türk Siyasal Hayatı

Journal: İnönü Üniversitesi Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 1, pp.242-256

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001351189

pISSN: 2147-0936

Issues

Authors:

Mehmet Kocaoglu

Publisher:

Inonu University

Main Topics:

Türk Siyasal Hayatı

Journal:

İnönü Üniversitesi Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi Vol.14 Issue 1, pp.242-256

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001351189

pISSN:

2147-0936