Migration is not merely the relocation of individuals; it is the rewriting of the identities of nations, societies, and cities. Cities, in this sense, are both the setting and the subject of this narrative. Migration and the city have been two fundamental social phenomena that have influenced and transformed each other for centuries. As Edward Said aptly stated, migration is a “state of interrupted being;’’ the migrating individual transforms both the city they leave and the city they arrive in—not only physically, but also culturally, socially, economically, and politically. This transformation often seeps into the soul of cities through invisible fractures, disrupted memories, and newly constructed senses of belonging.
Throughout history, migratory movements have at times led to mass population shifts, the formation of new minority communities, and the enrichment of cities’ cultural diversity. However, the encounter of differences has not always resulted in harmony; it has also carried the potential for conflict. At this point, the crucial question is: is migration itself the root of conflict, or is it the inability of cities to provide the necessary social, economic, and political infrastructure to absorb migration? More often than not, the source of these tensions lies not in migration itself, but in the systems that manage or fail to manage it.
Migration has reshaped cities not only demographically but also through their cultural fabric, use of public space, and daily practices. At the same time, cities have also shaped migrants. With the rise of neoliberal policies and globalized urban structures, cities have become physically and socially fragmented marked by migrant neighborhoods, suburban peripheries, excluded zones, and centralized areas of capital. This spatial segregation has created new urban forms where social inequalities become increasingly visible.
This fragmentation and inequality have further complicated the impacts of not only migration but also disasters. Like migration, disasters deeply affect both the physical and social fabric of cities. Beyond natural disasters, human-made crises render vulnerable groups in urban settings even more exposed. Migrants, refugees, and displaced populations are among the most affected before, during, and after disasters. Thus, migration, the city, and disasters constitute an interconnected and inseparable field of research. The rights violations, access inequalities, and risks of social exclusion faced by migrants in post-disaster recovery processes necessitate a rethinking of urban planning on the basis of justice.
For this reason, the era we live in today is defined not only by global migration flows but also by uncertainty. Today’s societal structure, described by Ulrich Beck as a “risk society,” is shaped not only by natural catastrophes but also by a variety of complex and unpredictable crises—from climate change and the everyday integration of artificial intelligence to global pandemics and the rapid increase in refugee movements. In this multilayered landscape of crises, both the actors of migration and cities themselves stand at the threshold of profound transformation.
So what will become of cities in this age of crisis? How will this uncertainty reshape migration, migrants, and receiving societies? These questions may never yield definitive answers. Yet, pursuing them through research, dialogue, and policy grounded in social equity, participatory democracy, and inclusive urbanism is more vital than ever.
Prof. Dr. Ulaş SUNATA
TR
