Fragile Solidarity Amid Urban Exclusion: Syrian Refugees and Neighborhood Life in a Historic District of İzmir, Turkey

Abstract

This article explores how Syrian refugees experience neighboring and community relations in Basmane, a marginalized district in & Idot;zmir, T & uuml;rkiye. While neighborhood ties have weakened in modern urban life, exclusionary urban zones often foster stronger solidarity. Yet, how refugees form neighborly bonds within such zones remains unclear. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, the study examines how neighborhood relations are shaped by spatial confinement, economic precarity, and social exclusion. Findings reveal fragmented solidarity, limited place attachment, and constrained mobility. The article contributes to urban migration research by highlighting the ambiguous nature of belonging in spaces of forced settlement and involuntary urban segregation.