Border Crossing

Socioeconomic and Demographic Differences in Burnout Among Parents of Children with Special Needs

Mevlüt Marufoğlu, Sinem Soyhan, Abdurrahman Kasım Pakiş — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined burnout levels among parents of children with special needs in relation to various socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys with 382 parents. Because burnout scores did not meet the assumption of normality, Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis H tests were used to compare groups. The findings revealed significant differences in burnout according to the gender of the child, cohabitation status, income level, and the type of support services utilized by parents. Parents of girls with special needs showed higher burnout levels than parents of boys. In addition, burnout levels varied across different household compositions, income groups, and support-service categories. A statistically significant difference was also observed according to marital status; however, this finding should be interpreted with caution due to the substantial imbalance in group sizes. No significant differences were found according to parent type or educational level. Overall, the findings suggest that parental burnout is more closely associated with family and socioeconomic circumstances than with individual demographic characteristics. The results highlight the importance of considering contextual and resource-related factors when developing support services and intervention programs for families of children with special needs.

US and Israeli Strategies Towards Iran in the Context of Demographic Engineering

Murat Ercan, Serra Namlu Çamlıbel, Çağdaş Terdi — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article analyses the strategies of the US and Israel towards Iran, moving beyond the traditional military deterrence paradigm, within the framework of the concepts of demographic engineering, emotional provocation and post-colonial theory. The power struggle centred on Iran in the Middle East exhibits a hybrid character, conducted not only through nuclear capabilities or regional military presence, but also through the management of social perceptions, the manipulation of sectarian dynamics, and elements of psychological warfare. The study examines the demographic engineering strategies of the US and Israel within a framework targeting Shia networks in Iran’s spheres of regional influence, whilst analysing the dimension of emotional provocation through perception operations conducted via the media, digital platforms and political discourse. Postcolonial theory, particularly Edward Said’s thesis on Orientalism, Frantz Fanon’s conceptualisation of resistance, and Homi Bhabha’s theory of hybridity, provides a conceptual framework for understanding how these strategies are intertwined with historically constructed power relations and forms of representation. The study also examines the resistance mechanisms developed by the Iranian regime against these strategies and how social heterogeneity limits the effectiveness of external interventions. Based on qualitative case analysis and discourse analysis, the study demonstrates that military, social, psychological and post-colonial dimensions must be evaluated together to understand the current nature of Middle Eastern conflicts.

Integrated Methodological Analysis of Internal and International Migration in the Context of Indian Gulf Migration

Mohammed Taukeer — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

There is the richest colonial history of study of both internal and international migration in South Asia, especially in India, where the colonial framework of study of migration is being reflected in post –colonial aspect of internal and international migration. In these consequences, the present paper analyses the integrated methodological approach regarding the study of internal and international migration into a single framework under the approach of retrospective to prospective manner of the study design from its past to present with future implications of the integrated approach of the study of internal and international migration. Findings of the study show that there is a cordial nexus between internal and international migration in the context of the study of documented and undocumented South Asian migration under the interpretation of migration through an integrated approach with limitations of contradiction, discrimination and challenges. Therefore, the present paper encourages researchers and policy makers for conducting study of both internal and international migration into a single framework in the context of the colonial to post-colonial framework from the perspective of South Asian migration.

Exploring Migration Aspirations and Pathways of Afghan Youth Living under the Taliban Rule

Ahmad Walid Barlas, Abdullah Ammar, Yazdanali Rezayee — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines the migration aspirations and pathways of Afghan youth living under the Taliban rule. We surveyed 280 youth in Balkh and Samangan provinces of Afghanistan, spanning three weeks in January 2022. The respondents were selected using convenience and snowballing sampling strategies. The findings expose that 91% of the respondents think of migrating to other countries. Furthermore, they confirmed insecurity, unemployment, dissatisfaction with the Taliban and imposing restrictions on women activities by the Taliban as the key drivers of their desire to emigrate. Additionally, the employment status of our participants majorly changed, with many losing their jobs after the political change, resulting in a one-third decline in their average monthly income. The majority of the youth surveyed (83%) consider regular migration channels. Even so, 17% of young people think of migrating through irregular channels. This paper recommends that countries should enhance regular migration channels by simplifying visa processes, increasing quotas, and developing specialized programs for at-risk groups, particularly women. In particular, destination countries could establish expedited visa processing centers in neighboring nations for Afghan applicants, prioritizing at-risk groups.

The Opportunities and Challenges of Multilingual Publishing: A Critical Essay on the Context of Northern Zazaki and the Kızılbaş -Alevi Community

Zeynep Arslan — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Although prompted by the publication of Sanıka Lazekê Nêçari, the fifth and final volume of our multilingual series in Zazaki and other languages, this article focuses on the broader processes of multilingual publishing rather than on the book itself. It examines the structural conditions, practical challenges, and collective dynamics involved in publishing within fragmented and dispersed linguistic and cultural fields. Drawing on years of experience, the essay critically reflects on both productive and problematic aspects of multilingual cultural production, with particular attention to the ethnocultural and political tensions that shape these processes. The article also contributes to discussions on Zazaki and other endangered languages by addressing questions of identity, belonging, and marginalisation. It argues that dominant European nation-state narratives continue to structure collective identities and social imaginaries. When marginalised groups articulate themselves within these frameworks, existing power relations may be reproduced, leading to forms of self-alienation, fragmentation, and political disorientation. The reflections are grounded in the author’s positionality as a Northern Zaza Kızılbaş-Alevi.

Honorable Return or Diplomatic Expedient?

Deniz Yetkin Aker — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article examines how the concept of “honorable return” can be translated into practice for Syrian refugees in Türkiye, understood as voluntary, safe, and dignified repatriation in line with international protection standards. It argues that return should not be treated as a single event but as a form of governance shaped by legal certainty, socio-economic security, psychosocial well-being, and institutional responsibility. Drawing on repatriation ethics, the human security paradigm, and the capabilities approach, the article shows how prolonged temporariness, limited access to formal employment and documentation, and uneven municipal capacities constrain refugees’ real choices and undermine voluntariness. It further demonstrates that sustainable reintegration depends not on the number of returns but on sequenced and rights-based support, including pre-return counselling, reception services, livelihoods, housing, and long-term monitoring. The article concludes by outlining policy priorities centred on rights-based governance in the host country, verifiable conditions and accountability in the country of origin, and sustained international responsibility-sharing in line with SDG 10 and SDG 16.

Between Energy and Politics: Cooperation among Israel, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus

Figen Aydın — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the energy dimension of relations among Israel, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus. It argues that political interests and energy-related issues constitute the binding elements among regional actors. Cooperation in the field of energy contributes to the deepening of political relations among these actors. Accordingly, energy policies and political interests overlap in shaping inter-actor relations in the Eastern Mediterranean. Regional political relations gain momentum when the extraction, exploitation, sharing, and transportation of natural resources in the Eastern Mediterranean are taken into consideration. It is understood that political relations provide a foundation for economic relations expanded through cooperation in energy resources. The study claims that energy cooperation among the three actors has a significant impact on regional political relations.

Eastern Syriac Monastic Tradition on the Mountain East Syriac Monastic Tradition on Mount Izlo /Izla

Tahsin Korkut — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article, based on comprehensive archaeological surface surveys conducted in Mardin and Batman (Tur Abdin) provinces between 2017 and 2024 under the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, examines the financial developments, topographical distributions, architectural features, and current preservation possibilities of the monasteries under consideration. The study also analyzes rock-cut and masonry construction techniques, spatial organization, liturgical arrangements, and reliquary practices using a comparative approach. Each structure is evaluated within its natural environment and traditional context to reveal the continuity and diversity of East Syriac monastic architecture.Furthermore, the study addresses deterioration in rock-cut and masonry architecture due to natural environmental conditions, material usage (rubble and cut stone), flexible weathering, late additions, and modern interventions, discussing the impact of these elements on the original architectural structure. This evaluation ensures that not only the financial structures but also the preservation problems of these monasteries are addressed.In the conclusion, the common architectural elements of the four monasteries (single-nave plan update, apse arrangement, use of niches, carved crosses, and reliquary typology) and their individual characteristics were identified; it was emphasized that this structure is among the most original examples of East Syriac architecture in Anatolia and reflects the continuous monastic tradition in the region's Christian history.This study examines the East Syriac monastic tradition located in the izlo/izla Mountain basin, north of Nusaybin district in Mardin province, through a holistic approach focusing on the monasteries of Mar Yuhannon Tayyoyo, Mar Yoreth Aleksandroyo, Mar Evgin, and Kasgarli Mar Abrohom. Situated in the Roman-Sasanian border region since late antiquity, izlo/izla Mountain has played a decisive role in shaping East Syriac theological thought and monastic architecture as a geography where religious, cultural, and political interactions intensified. Based on data obtained from archaeological surface surveys conducted in Mardin and Batman (Tur Abdin) provinces between 2017 and 2024, with the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, this article examines the monasteries in question within the context of their historical development, their relationship with topography, architectural features, and current state of preservation. The study also analyzes rock-carving and masonry construction techniques, spatial organization, liturgical arrangements, and reliquary applications using a comparative approach. Each structure is evaluated within its natural environment and historical context, revealing the continuity and diversity of East Syriac monastic architecture. The study also examines deterioration in rock-cut and masonry architecture due to natural environmental conditions, material usage (rubble and cut stone), structural deterioration, late additions, and modern interventions, discussing the impact of these elements on the original architectural identity of the structures. This evaluation ensures that these monasteries are considered not only in terms of their historical context but also in terms of conservation issues.In the conclusion, the common architectural elements (singlenave plan scheme, apse arrangement, use of niches, carved crosses, and reliquary typology) and distinguishing features of the four monasteries were identified; it was emphasized that these structures are among the most original examples of East Syriac architecture in Anatolia and reflect the uninterrupted monastic tradition in the region's Christian history.

De-agrarianization in Northern Nigeria: Circular Migration Laid to Rest

Maryam Liman — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the dynamics of migration from southern Niger to northern Nigeria, focusing on the processes that leads to de-agrarianization. Data was collected through household interviews and focus group discussions with migrants in Daura, Katsina, ‘Yar Shanya, Magama Jibiya, Kano, and surrounding areas. Findings reveal that migration is driven by multiple factors including economic (bida), seasonal (ci rani), educational, health, and business-related motives. Most migrants initially engage in circular or seasonal migration, returning home during the rainy season for farming, but after six to ten years many transition into permanent settlement. This shift is often accompanied by household restructuring, where spouses either relocate from Niger or Nigerian partners join the household. Migrants sustain links to their origins through remittances, facilitated informally via personal networks. Results further show that economic migrants, particularly ‘yan ci rani, are the group most associated with de-agrarianization, gradually abandoning farming for non-agricultural livelihoods. While this transition enhances income opportunities in host communities, it simultaneously contributes to farmland abandonment and declining agricultural productivity in areas of origin. The study concludes that de-agrarianization poses a growing threat to food security in the Sahel, underscoring the need for policies that encourage sustainable land use, strengthen agricultural support systems, and provide livelihood diversification strategies that complement rather than replace farming.

Shaman in the Nomadic Cosmos: Ritual Expertise Between Tradition and Modernity

Çakır Ceyhan Suvari — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article offers a comprehensive analysis of shamanism in the Central Asian context, arguing that it cannot be reduced to a static relic of the past but should instead be understood as a dynamic and multi-layered system of meaning-making. First, the cosmological and ritual foundations of shamanism—anchored in tripartite universe models and axis mundi schemata—are shown to provide both symbolic and psychosocial frameworks for healing and communal cohesion. Second, shamanic social roles are examined across historical and economic domains, demonstrating how mediators of crisis, narrators of normative order, and agents of fertility and hunting integrate ritual performance with social and ecological life, including gendered dimensions of practice. Third, the interaction between shamanism and Islam is explored as a process of transformation rather than disappearance, highlighting continuities in ritual practice and contemporary revivals shaped by post-Soviet identity politics, heritage regimes, and global neo-shamanic movements. By situating shamanism at the intersections of identity, power, health, ecology, and religion, this study proposes shamanism as a productive analytical lens for understanding the entanglement of local tradition and global circulation.