The Role of Historical Traditions in Turkish Migration Policies

Abstract

From a migration policy point of view, historic legal and institutional reforms have taken place in Turkey. A comprehensive modern law on Foreigners and International Protection came into force in 2014. At the same time, non-European refugees remained in a special situation of temporary protection and the inclusion of foreigners is still a sensitive issue. The study reveals the historical background of the Turkish migration policy focusing on certain major periods of migration to and out of Turkey in order to identify the transformation of the traditional policy on immigration, as well as, the challenges with which every country has to face due to changes of migratory patterns. The study points out the migration policy on Syrian refugees and the Turkish asylum system. The study shows that traditional and modern elements of migration policy coexist and the migratory system is still in transition due to the constant pressure and rapid changes of global migration.