A Field Study on Social Capital, Culture of Living Together and Neighborhood Relations

Authors : Şerafettin Keleş

Pages : 373-391

Doi:10.17755/esosder.1536915

View : 27 | Download : 26

Publication Date : 2025-01-29

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Turkey, which is the intersection of Europe, Asia and Africa, has been the main route of migration throughout human history. Forced migrants coming to Turkey have low-skilled labor and mostly consist of farmers engaged in agriculture in rural areas. Turkey settles migrants migrating from nearby geography in districts where agricultural production is carried out in rural areas and can employ these migrants in agricultural production. When the host community trusts the migrants, they can treat them warmly, neighborly relations begin and a culture of living together that is beneficial for both parties is formed. This study aimed to investigate on-site the contribution of social capital to the neighborhood relations and the culture of living together process established by Meskhetian Turks settled in Üzümlü District of Erzincan Province since 2016 with the residents of Üzümlü District. In line with this objective, a survey was conducted with 269 Meskhetian Turks migrating from the Russian Federation. In the analyses conducted with Structural Equation Modeling, it was determined that Meskhetian Turks developed very good neighborhood relations with the people of Üzümlü District of Erzincan Province and created a culture of living together. While the Bonding Social Capital contributed positively to this process, the Bridging Social Capital had a negative effect. The study approaches the issue of migration within the scope of “microeconomic migration theories”. The economic needs and desires of individuals are taken as basis.
Keywords : Sosyal Sermaye, Komşuluk İlişkileri, Birlikte Yaşama Kültürü, Göç