Migration Regime and "Language Part of Work": Experiences of Syrian Refugees as Surplus Population in the Turkish Labor Market

Nimer M., Rottmann S. B.

CRITICAL SOCIOLOGY, vol.47, no.4-5, pp.763-776, 2021 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 47 Issue: 4-5
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1177/0896920520964856
  • Journal Name: CRITICAL SOCIOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, IBZ Online, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, Periodicals Index Online, Criminal Justice Abstracts, Political Science Complete, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
  • Page Numbers: pp.763-776
  • Keywords: Sociology, Migration, Workers, Labor, Capitalism, Refugees, State, Work and Economy, CITIZENS
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: No

Abstract

The literature on migration, language and employment is dominated by the human capital approach and promotes multilingualism as a universal good. This paper examines the relationship between language and work for migrants illustrating how they are ascribed value as capital according to their position and the "language part of work." First, we trace a genealogy of the migration regime in relation to the labor and linguistic market of migrants in Turkey, characterized by informality and exploitation. Then, we look at the experiences of refugees qualitatively to show how language is differentially valued and has modest effects on social mobility. We argue that language learning instead of stemming from individuals' possession of capital should be examined within a broader linguistic and employment framework. This research goes beyond conventional wisdom about the centrality of language as a means to improve employment by shedding light on the structure that shapes language value.