Power of Social Capital: The Case of Kazanlı in the Aftermath of February 6 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

In the wake of the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes on February 6, 2023, Turkey experienced significant internal displacement and relocation, with Mersin and Ankara among the cities receiving the largest share of these mass migration movements. This study aims to examine the dynamics of mobility by focusing specifically on the Kazanlı neighborhood in Mersin, known for its unique Arab Alevi community ties. The conceptual framework of this study is based on social capital in Bourdieu’s terms. This framework underlines the importance of social capital in shaping migration responses, particularly in minority communities, and its implications for post-disaster recovery and integration. Through 30 in-depth interviews conducted in Mersin, we identified Kazanlı as a "safe zone" for earthquake survivors particularly from Hatay, which had the largest Arab Alevi population and experienced the most devastating destruction of neighborhoods and communities. Our findings reveal that the strong resilience observed among the Arab Alevi population in Kazanlı is deeply rooted in their shared cultural identity and minority status. The displaced individuals from Hatay were hosted by family members and relatives who had previously settled in the area, providing free housing and support without the need for tapping into the formal assistance forms. This resilience was driven by shared cultural identity and the desire to protect their group members, illustrating how bonding social capital can become a lifeline in times of crisis. This case highlights the power of social capital as fundamental resource in disaster-induced migration, demonstrating that informal, community-based support networks can often outperform formal mechanisms in delivering rapid relief and decreasing vulnerabilities. This study aims to make a contribution to the literature on disasters and migration by shedding light on how disaster-induced migration disproportionately affects marginalized groups and explores the role of resilience-building strategies that address the unique vulnerabilities of such communities in the Anthropocene era.