Abstract:

This paper delves into the dynamics of labour migration from the Central Asian Republics of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to Turkey, in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. The phenomenon of labour migration and subsequent personal remittances sent by expatriates have emerged as pivotal factors shaping the socio-economic landscapes of these three Central Asian nations since the early 2000s. Initially, Russia stood as the primary destination for labour migrants from these republics. However, the 2008 financial crisis posed unprecedented challenges for all labour migrants in Russia, particularly those from Central Asia, as their home countries relied heavily on the remittances they sent. Despite this, Russia remained the primary destination for potential Kyrgyz, Tajik, and Uzbek labour migrants until 2014. Following the annexation of Crimea, Russia faced severe economic sanctions, echoing the strains of the 2008 financial crisis. In response, citizens and governments of the three Central Asian nations, deeply reliant on remittances from their diaspora in Russia, actively sought alternative labour markets. Among the alternatives, Turkey emerged as one of the most viable options. This paper draws on my master's thesis, titled ‘‘Migration from the Central Asian Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to Turkey (Antalya-İstanbul-İzmir) after the 2008 World Financial Crisis’’, defended in 2023 at Middle East Technical University, along with 15 interviews conducted for the same thesis.