Towards an Understanding of Refugee Segregation, Isolation, Homophily and Ultimately Integration in Turkey Using Call Detail Records

Abstract

In this chapter, we contribute a methodological framework for measuring integration through the lens of spatial and social segregation using CDR data. We illustrate the application of this framework using the datasets provided by Türk Telekom. Integration is one of the main durable solutions to refugee crises recognized by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It is a complex and gradual legal, economic, social and cultural process that burdens both the settling population, and the receiving society. Successful integration requires actions from a variety of stakeholders (including different levels of government, NGOs, welfare service providers, etc.), which can make evaluating the outcomes of targeted programmes and policies extremely difficult. While these generally differ from country to country, UNHCR recognizes a need for standardized indicators that can be used to compare integration across countries and regions, and to assess the success of various efforts. Here, we show how segregation, isolation and homophily can be measured by deriving population estimates from CDRs, and how the evolution of refugees’ communication patterns and mobility traces can provide initial insights into their social integration.