Rural‒Urban Mobilities in Turkey: Socio-spatial Perspectives on Migration and Return Movements. Issue 5 (3rd September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Öztürk, Murat; Topaloğlu, Beşir; Hilton, Andy; Jongerden, Joost
• Is Part Of: Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern studies. Volume 20:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 513
• Page End: 530
• Publication Date: 2018-09-03
• Subjects: Rural-Urban Mobilities -- Peasants -- Precarity -- Counter-Urbanization -- Turkey; Balkan Peninsula -- Periodicals; Balkan Peninsula -- Statistics -- Periodicals; Middle East -- Periodicals; 949.6
• DOI: 10.1080/19448953.2018.1406696
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1944-8953

Abstract

Abstract: Based on original data, this article discusses rural‒urban mobilities and the contemporary employment‒migration relationship. Starting with the observation of reduced rural population but maintained family-farm numbers, it engages with multiple issues, including rural employment, the process of urban migration, settlement in the city, the relation of migrants to the rurality and (return) counter-migration. It supports the thesis that migration is not so much about a 'movement from one place to another', the classical migration definition, and more about a coupling of practices (related to mobilities, residence, employment, etc.) with places over time. Thus, migration and counter-migration are conceptualized as socio-spatial strategies, conceptualized as 'multi-place living' or 'dual life', which are based on variable engagements with rural farming, urban wage labour and return movements (for retirement, refuge, etc.). The newly emergent and growing dual/multi-place structures that result from this are re-shaping village life in particular, expressed in various ways, such as in a changing village demography and function.