A Relational Sociological Appraisal About Climate Refugees

Aytul Kasapoglu* Professor of Sociology, Baskent University Department of sociology, Turkey

*Corresponding author: Aytul Kasapoglu, Professor of Sociology, Baskent University Department of sociology, Turkey

ABSTRACT

Today, analyzes based on dualities such as natural and cultural, global and local are insufficient to understand and explain the risk society. Likewise, the legal regulations of the 1950s, especially the Geneva Convention, which was quite advanced and humane according to the conditions of that day, are far from meeting today’s needs and requires revision. The main problem of this study is the increase in global inequalities due to the fact that the whole world does not make the necessary legal, political, social and economic preparations by showing sufficient sensitivity to many problems, especially human mobility, which will be caused by climate changes. In this context, the basic questions sought to be answered in this study are: a. What are the relations between global warming and environmental problems in general, and between climate change, health and migration in particular? b. What does the concept of climate refugee mean and what is its importance? Within the limits of the article, this study focuses on ambiguities and differences in a relational sociological perspective, by rejecting essentialism and dualism. The basis of this study is the assumption that all countries will be looser if they act with populist views that only take care of their national interests. Based on the use of the concept of climate refugee in local and regional documents, it has been predicted that it will legally enter wider international conventions in the context of human rights. It has been underlined that it is important for academics to guide law people, especially by conducting scientific research. It has been tried to reveal that the subject, which is handled with its legal dimension, will mature with the supra- disciplinary studies of educators who make new environmental and climate change curricula, sociologists, international relations experts and environmental scientists through the concepts of liminality, uncertainty and difference.

Keywords: Relational Sociology; Liminality; Global Warming; Environmental Problems; Migration; Climate Refugees

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