Beneath Walls and Naked Souls: Factors influencing Intercultural Meaningful Social Interactions in Public Places of Istanbul

Abstract

Individuals often avoid intercultural interactions due to biases and stereotyped perceptions about others. However, these encounters are needed to promote social inclusion and diversity. Previous PD studies have supported migrants' social inclusion through developing their social capital and empowerment. Very few studies explored the facilitation of intercultural interactions within everyday contexts, like public places; further, most studies provide western perspectives. Addressing this gap, we conducted a focus group study with migrants and locals living in Istanbul, a city connecting eastern and western cultures, to explore how they perceive intercultural meaningful social interactions (IMSI). We asked participants to share poems about meaningful interactions, opening a dialogue about their intercultural life experiences. This technique allowed us to identify abstract qualities of IMSI and factors that influence them. We contribute to PD work on social inclusion by presenting in-between perspectives of IMSI and discussing opportunities for facilitating IMSI in a super-diverse city.