Revisiting Migration Theories from the Perspective of Syrian Migrants’ Preference of Turkey

Why do people migrate? Since the 19th century, when the first migration theory first appeared, many theoreticians have sought to answer this question. In order to understand the causes of and categorize this particular phenomenon, many migratory events and migrant behaviors have been studied, in addition to the efforts to systematize the causes of migration. In the 21st century, the phenomenon of migration and types of migrants have undergone a period of transformation. Both conventional and modern migration theories have been unable to explain the migrations taking place in the 21st century as specific types of migration and migrants have emerged, making it quite difficult to explain migratory behaviors. After the civil war erupted in Syria in 2011, the migration of Syrians to Turkey has become too complex to be explained by a single theory. No theory of migration alone can explain either the behaviors of Syrian migrants or the reasons for their migration. In this case, it is necessary to resort to multiple migration theories to explain why Syrian migrants have preferred Turkey. In this way, both the theoretical background and the underlying reasons for their migration can be revealed. This article will analyze migration theories from the classical to modern period. At the same time, the study will seek answers to the question of why Syrian migrants prefer Turkey and some Turkish provinces over others according to the approach of each migration theory.