Bringing agency back In: the case of Sub-Saharan African migrants in Istanbu

Abstract

In this thesis, I analyze the role of agency and structure in the migration process of Sub-Saharan African migrants in Istanbul, including their decision to leave their country of origin, their decision to come to Turkey and their experience as foreigners in Istanbul. The research is based on in-depth semi-structured interviews with Sub-Saharan African refugees and asylum seekers, students and other migrants focusing on their choices, experiences and strategies. It also includes participant observation in public and private spaces where migrants gather, informal interviews and the study of secondary literature exploring the legal framework and background of migration to Turkey. Using the structuration conceptual framework, I argue that structural forces, including economy, politics, legislation and culture, are a set of resources and obstacles that influence migrants’ choices and experiences. However, migrants do not react automatically to structural stimuli. Rather, they should be considered as knowledgeable agents who reflect on their environment and develop coping and advancement strategies while always keeping a certain degree of control over those structures. Furthermore, I argue that through their agency, migrants contribute to the change and reproduction of structural forces.