Syrian Refugee Issue in Turkey: Socio-Economic and Geopolitical Challenges

This paper is aimed to estimate the effect of Syrian refugees influx into Turkey since the beginning of the war in Syria in 2011. The data regarding economic, social and political problems caused by Syrian refugees, is utilized by the media reports, relevant materials from corresponding studies, government and policy documents. The influx of Syrian refugees to Turkey is becoming one of the key factors contributing to provoking significant domestic political risks, growth of crime, economic instability such as dumping of wages, shortage of jobs, out flow of capital, inter-ethnic and inter-confessional conflicts, xenophobia, destroying fundamental identity and undermining Turkey’s sovereignty. The policy questions should guide next steps on the Syrian refugee issue: How to maximize the social and economic benefits of the refugee presence for host communities and the Turkish economy as a whole? How to mitigate the potential negative geopolitical challenges of the refugee presence on host communities? How to support refugees to be self-reliant until they are able to return? Our analysis demonstrates that anticipating an escalation of conflicts and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria. And the new resettlement not only creates a strain on the Turkish economy, but fuels the existing hotbeds of social tension.