This book is derived from my PhD dissertation entitled “Urban Adaptation and Integration (The Living Tunceliler Sample Case in Isparta”, which I completed under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Cevdet YILMAZ at the Department of Sociology, Institute of Social Sciences, Süleyman Demirel University. Today, it is seen that two global phenomena that affect all societies of the world come to the fore. The first of these global phenomena is “increasing migration movements”. The second global phenomenon is “increasing urbanisation movements”. So in fact, if the age we are living in can be described with two concepts, the first one can be entitled as ‘the age of migration’ and the second one as ‘the age of urbanisation’. As a phenomenon equivalent to the history of humanity, we are witnessing that migration movements as a displacement movement have reached dimensions that have not been seen in previous centuries in today's societies. As a result of these increasing migration movements, social, economic, cultural and socio-psychological problems arise in all societies of the world due to migration movements. For example; poverty, unemployment, crime, violence, othering, exclusion, discrimination, social segregation, ghettoisation, unplanned urbanisation, housing, environmental pollution, etc. problems can be counted right at the beginning. When we look at the causes of these problems, it is basically due to the lack of social, economic, cultural and socio-psychological adaptation and integration of newcomers. This problem of incompatibility and non-integration stems from both the individual failures of the newcomers and the inadequacy of the facilities of the destination (host society).

In the migration literature, the cohesion and integration of migrants are described with different concepts. These concepts are social integration, social cohesion, social inclusion, social consensus and urban pluralism. In this study, the concept of internal migration and urban cohesion and integration will be emphasised. In this respect, the main purpose of this study is to understand the theoretical approach and criteria of the adaptation and integration of individuals who migrate to urban areas as a result of internal migration movements rather than the adaptation and integration of those who come to a new society as a result of external migration movements. Another important aim of the study is to fill the gaps in the literature on internal migration, urban cohesion and integration indicators. As a matter of fact, in the literature, the phenomenon of urban cohesion and integration has been evaluated with the concept of ‘urbanisation’ by some authors, while it has been evaluated within the framework of the concept of ‘urbanism’ by others. However, both concepts point to different points. Urbanisation is the extension and development of urban areas, while urbanism is the process of embracing and internalising urban behaviours. In connection with this purpose, another aim of this study is to emphasise that although the concepts of urban cohesion and integration are used instead of each other in daily life, the two concepts are different from each other. Indeed, urban cohesion is the "first occurrence" for newcomers in the places they arrive, and it is a process they are ‘’obliged/involuntary‘’ to live in the new place they have arrived. For example, newcomers to the city have to adapt to the geographical conditions and climate of the place they migrate to. Urban integration, on the other hand, is a “voluntary/willing” process that is realised “afterwards” as a result of the urban adaptation process. For example, the fact that family graves are located in the place of arrival rather than the place of migration is an important indicator in terms of urban integration. In terms of similarities, firstly, both concepts involve a process of “re-adaptation”. Secondly, both urban cohesion and urban integration require the passage of a “certain period of time”. Thirdly, both urban cohesion and urban integration require “willingness” of individuals and groups and “availability of opportunities” at the destination.

To summarise, this study focuses on urban cohesion and integration as a result of internal migration movements and aims to be a source to help understand urban cohesion and integration. It is hoped that it will be a resource that will both present the existing debates in the field in an organised and unified manner and will be a source for new debates...

Gökhan KURT