Discourses of inclusion and exclusion towards Syrian refugees in Turkey: a psychoanalytic approach

Abstract

This article investigates the inclusionary and exclusionary discourses surrounding Syrian refugees in Turkey through a Lacanian psychoanalytical lens. Ethnographic fieldwork for this research was undertaken in the Turkish cities of Kilis and Gaziantep, notable for their significant Syrian refugee populations. The study reveals that inclusionary discourses are propelled by the symbolic order, including divine will, the state and its leader, post-colonial cultural norms, and human rights-based world views. Conversely, exclusionary discourses often manifest a perceived 'false victimhood,' wherein locals feel unfairly disadvantaged due to the refugees' impact on economic competition, public service access, political representation, and their traditional lifestyles.