The invisible dynamics of migration: the new order established by Syrians under temporary protection in Ankara through social networ

This study deals with the effect of social networks in Syrians’ access to housing, employment and urban services in Ankara which is one of the first applications of Social Network Theory in Turkish Urban and Regional Planning. Focusing on Syrian holders of Temporary Protection identification documents, the study explores how informal links affect everyday life and migrants’ navigation within the city. The study is conducted in two neighborhoods, one (Önder) with a high density of Syrian residents and the other (Bostancık) with much less. The analyses reveal how different demographic patterns are connected to the structure and efficacy of social networks. Using face-to-face interviews and social network analysis implemented in R Studio, the paper highlights how relational connections shape migrants’ choice of housing, work, and access to metropolitan amenities. The results illuminate pathways of access and opportunities across the urban environment through bonding and bridging networks. This research contributes to planning studies by enabling a sociological approach and it illuminates the mechanisms often neglected, which enable migrants to get along in urban life. The findings highlight that social networks are not just support mechanisms but essentially spatial tools for how migrants negotiate their urban environments.

Keywords: R Studio, social network theory, Syrians under temporary protection.