Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Home is Where the Heart Is? Forced Migration and Voluntary Return in Turkey's Kurdish Regions

Stefanovic, Djrodje, Loizides, Neophytos G., Parsons, Samantha (2015) Home is Where the Heart Is? Forced Migration and Voluntary Return in Turkey's Kurdish Regions. Journal of Refugee Studies, 28 (2). pp. 276-296. ISSN 0951-6328. E-ISSN 1471-6925. (doi:10.1093/jrs/feu029) (KAR id:43561)

PDF (Author cannot archive publishers version/PDF)
Language: English

Restricted to Repository staff only
[thumbnail of Author cannot archive publishers version/PDF]
PDF
Language: English
Download this file
(PDF/343kB)
[thumbnail of Journal of Refugee Studies-2015-Stefanovic-276-96.pdf]
Preview
Request a format suitable for use with assistive technology e.g. a screenreader
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jrs/feu029

Abstract

What influences the decisions of internally displaced persons (IDPs) to return home after prolonged displacement? This article investigates the attitudes of victims of forced migration by analysing survey data on Kurdish displaced persons and returnees in Turkey. In an attempt to give a voice to displaced persons, we survey the conditions under which IDPs return home despite continuing tensions, lack of infrastructure and risk of renewed violence. The findings suggest that integration into a new environment in Western Turkey, measured by economic advancement and knowledge of Turkish, reduces the likelihood of return. Yet contrary to conventional wisdom, more educated IDPs demonstrate a stronger desire to return to their ancestral communities, suggesting that education increases available options for displaced persons. The findings are relevant in informing global responses to forced migration as well as understanding the local experiences and perceptions of IDPs in conflict ridden societies.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/jrs/feu029
Uncontrolled keywords: forced migration, Kurds, social capital, education, Turkey
Subjects: J Political Science
J Political Science > JN Political institutions and public administration (Europe)
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Politics and International Relations
Depositing User: Neophytos Loizides
Date Deposited: 21 Oct 2014 15:51 UTC
Last Modified: 17 Aug 2022 10:57 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/43561 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Loizides, Neophytos G..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0327-4643
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.