2019 Volume 35 Issue 1 Pages 119-133
Many Syrian refugees decided to stay in Turkey even though the Turkish government did not provide them with citizenship. Their status in Turkey today is one of “temporary protection.” According to the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) 2015, Turkey is ranked worst in terms of its migration policy out of 38 countries. This paper attempts to clarify the factors causing Syrian refugees in Turkey to choose Turkey as a final destination by using data from public opinion surveys conducted in Turkey. This study focuses on the areas of education, good income, and kinship and friendship. As a conclusion, this paper shows the reason for choosing Turkey as a final destination depends not on the realities of life in Turkey, but on the expectations of Syrian refugees. This tendency is strong among Syrians with lower education.