Social Structural Changes, Related Problems and Proposed Solutions Caused By Internal Migrations in Turkey

The simplest definition of migration is living things and people moving or relocating from one place to another. If migration takes place within the borders of a country, then it is called internal migration; if it crosses a country's border, it is called external or international migration. Migration can occur owing to social, economic, political, cultural, and ethnic reasons. Internal migration began with modernization in agriculture and industrialization activities after the Second World War in Turkey. Migration first occured from village to city, then from small- and medium-sized cities to large cities. In the 1990s, the shape of a new migration emerged: from cities to villages. Internal migration has caused social changes in both city and village settlements. Along with these changes, a number of problems emerged, especially in those of cities, and these problems exist till date. This study examined internal migration in Turkey and the causes of change in social structure, the resulting problems and the recommended solutions, and a novel perspective regarding migration was developed.