CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2026
| Author | Gungor, Mustafa Utku |
|---|---|
| Title | Explaining Variation in Local Immigrant Policies in Turkey: Actions, Actors and Transformation |
| Summary | This dissertation investigated the factors shaping municipal responses to immigration in Turkey, revealing the interplay of political, structural, and relational dynamics. Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative methods, it analyzes how municipalities have navigated their roles in an evolving and often ambiguous policy landscape. By mapping municipal actions over an eleven-year period, this research identifies variations in policy approaches—ranging from integrationist and rights-based strategies to isolationist and humanitarian measures—and explores the determinants of these divergences. Key drivers include political conditions such as partisanship, incumbency, and electoral competition, as well as socioeconomic development, cooperation with third parties, and the role of municipal mayors as policy entrepreneurs. The findings challenge the prevailing perception of local governments as mere implementers of national directives, demonstrating their agency in shaping immigration policies despite administrative and financial constraints. Furthermore, this study contributes to the literature by developing a typology of municipal immigration policies and constructing a unique dataset on municipal actions, filling a critical gap in migration and local governance research. The dissertation also underscores the significance of temporal dynamics, showing that municipal approaches evolve over time, increasingly converging toward pragmatic policy adaptations. In addition to its theoretical contributions, this research offers practical insights for policymakers, emphasizing the need for enhanced municipal capacity, collaboration, and integration strategies. While recognizing its limitations, including data constraints and the underexplored role of immigrant agency, the study paves the way for future research on local immigration governance in Turkey and beyond. |
| Supervisor | Cristina Corduneanu-Huci |
| Department | Political Science PhD |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2026/gungor_utku.pdf |
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