ABSTRACT
Since the 1980s, Turkey’s role in the international migratory scene has changed substantially, as the country has transformed from being a country of origin to a country of destination and transit. Historical transformations in the course of mobility have significantly influenced governmental techniques and rationalities in the domain of migration, asylum, and citizenship regulations and laws. Governing transnational mobility has been a political tool ever since, but Turkey’s relatively stable and growing economy, especially when compared to surrounding regions, has recently turned the country into a hub for new kinds of international mobility: On the one hand, there are an increasing number of regular mobility flows, such as tourists, foreign professionals, exchange students, asylum seekers, and their dependents. On the other hand, there is a growing number of irregular migrants, such as undocumented migrants, irregular border crossers, irregular labor migrants, and visa over-stayers.
