Between Borders and Policies: Turkey’s Evolving Approach to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Located at the intersection of Europe and Asia, Turkey has long been a key player in the Middle Eastern geopolitics. As conflicts continue to rage in neighboring countries, particularly Syria, Turkey has emerged as the world’s top refugee destination, hosting around 3.6 million forcibly displaced persons. This qualitative study analyses Turkey’s changing role in addressing the refugee crisis, exploring its policies, legal frameworks and socio-economic effects of its policy responses and subsequently of the refugee population. It examines the difficulties encountered by both host communities and refugees, shedding light on the political and social implications of Ankara’s policy. As regional dynamics shift, particularly in Syria after the change in leadership, Turkey’s refugee policy continues to influence its foreign and domestic policies. The research highlights the intricacies of Turkey’s refugee dilemma and the need for sustainable solutions that reconcile refugee rights with Turkish citizens’ interests, prioritizing social integration and long-term stability.