Periodic Reporting for period 2 - RESONATE (Designing Resonant Frames: How to Effectively Communicate about the Rights and Inclusion of Immigrants and Refugees?)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-01-15 al 2025-01-14
Human rights groups have sounded a distress call on the rising hate speech, xenophobia, criminalisation and stigmatisation of migrants and refugees in Europe and beyond. While immigrant and refugee rights movements (IRRM) have provided temporary assistance to refugees and migrants in numerous countries, they have failed to respond to the societal backlash against migration. RESONATE explores ways in which IRRMs can communicate with societies better to alter biased public opinion and promote rights for noncitizens. By focusing on Turkey, the largest refugee-hosting country in the world and a major hub for irregular migration, the project maps the capacities and communicative strategies of the emergent IRRM in the country. It combines novel research methods with insights from sociology, communication studies, and political science to challenge stigmatising views and solicit broader support for the rights of non-citizens towards forging more inclusive societies.
The project has three specific objectives:
1. Mapping the Immigrant and Refugee Rights Movement (IRRM) in Turkey
2. Identifying Resonant Frames concerning the migration debate to determine resonant and potent frames at individual and group levels and help refugee and migrant rights organizations amplify their public communication effectively
3. Testing the Effects of Resonant Frames on the public
These scientific objectives aim to decrease racialized attitudes toward non-citizens in all refugee and migrant-hosting countries. They could serve to improve social cohesion in the midst of rising far-right and anti-immigration sentiments that polarize many societies.
The project has three specific objectives:
1. Mapping the Immigrant and Refugee Rights Movement (IRRM) in Turkey
2. Identifying Resonant Frames concerning the migration debate to determine resonant and potent frames at individual and group levels and help refugee and migrant rights organizations amplify their public communication effectively
3. Testing the Effects of Resonant Frames on the public
These scientific objectives aim to decrease racialized attitudes toward non-citizens in all refugee and migrant-hosting countries. They could serve to improve social cohesion in the midst of rising far-right and anti-immigration sentiments that polarize many societies.
In the wake of the Syrian civil war, civil society organizations (CSOs) in Turkey initially focused on providing urgent humanitarian aid to refugees. Over time, they shifted toward long-term strategies, advocating for the rights of refugees and migrants in areas such as education, healthcare, and legal assistance. However, this progress is now under threat. A sharp rise in hate speech and xenophobia has not only hindered rights-based mobilization but has also strained Turkey’s already fragile social cohesion. Civil society groups—ranging from grassroots networks to established NGOs—find themselves unprepared to counter the growing backlash against refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.
This challenge is not unique to Turkey. Across Europe and beyond, migration has become a deeply polarized issue. Far-right movements and transnational networks fuel anti-migrant narratives, shaping public debates and influencing policy decisions. In many countries, xenophobia and misinformation dominate discussions on migration, leaving little room for voices advocating inclusion and human rights.
RESONATE seeks to change that. Through a three-stage research approach, it explores how civil society can develop stronger, more effective communication strategies to foster solidarity and reshape public attitudes on migration.
Stage 1: Mapping Civil Society’s Strengths and Challenges
The first phase of RESONATE systematically mapped the capacities, needs, and strategies of rights-based civil society organizations working with refugees and migrants in Turkey. This includes NGOs, trade unions, associations, and grassroots networks—both those founded by Turkish citizens and those established by migrant and refugee communities themselves. The goal was to understand how these groups operate, collaborate, and advocate for migrants’ rights. The project combined desk research**—analyzing reports, news articles, policy documents, and social media content—with fieldwork, conducting in-depth interviews with civil society representatives. This comprehensive approach provided a nuanced picture of how civil society engages with migration issues and where support is needed.
Stage 2: Identifying Effective Language for Public Engagement
The second phase of the project shifted focus to the broader Turkish public. It examined how different ways of framing the rights of migrants can shift attitudes and counteract stigma. Through deliberative focus groups held in eight cities, RESONATE reached a diverse cross-section of society—people from different political and socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants engaged in structured discussions, where they were introduced to various positive linguistic frames about migration, migrants and refugees. Their reactions helped determine which narratives resonate most, which were met with resistance, and how public perceptions evolved when exposed to alternative viewpoints. This stage provided valuable insights into how communication strategies can be tailored to foster empathy, challenge misinformation, and ultimately encourage a more inclusive society.
Stage 3: Testing Impact on a Larger Scale
The final phase of RESONATE took the most promising linguistic frames identified in the focus groups and tested them on a larger, nationally representative sample. Using an online survey experiment, the project reached 1500 adults across Turkey, and evaluated how different messaging strategies influence public attitudes toward refugees and migrants across Turkey. By combining qualitative and quantitative research methods, RESONATE generated evidence-based recommendations for civil society organizations, equipping them with powerful tools to challenge xenophobic narratives and promote social cohesion.
This challenge is not unique to Turkey. Across Europe and beyond, migration has become a deeply polarized issue. Far-right movements and transnational networks fuel anti-migrant narratives, shaping public debates and influencing policy decisions. In many countries, xenophobia and misinformation dominate discussions on migration, leaving little room for voices advocating inclusion and human rights.
RESONATE seeks to change that. Through a three-stage research approach, it explores how civil society can develop stronger, more effective communication strategies to foster solidarity and reshape public attitudes on migration.
Stage 1: Mapping Civil Society’s Strengths and Challenges
The first phase of RESONATE systematically mapped the capacities, needs, and strategies of rights-based civil society organizations working with refugees and migrants in Turkey. This includes NGOs, trade unions, associations, and grassroots networks—both those founded by Turkish citizens and those established by migrant and refugee communities themselves. The goal was to understand how these groups operate, collaborate, and advocate for migrants’ rights. The project combined desk research**—analyzing reports, news articles, policy documents, and social media content—with fieldwork, conducting in-depth interviews with civil society representatives. This comprehensive approach provided a nuanced picture of how civil society engages with migration issues and where support is needed.
Stage 2: Identifying Effective Language for Public Engagement
The second phase of the project shifted focus to the broader Turkish public. It examined how different ways of framing the rights of migrants can shift attitudes and counteract stigma. Through deliberative focus groups held in eight cities, RESONATE reached a diverse cross-section of society—people from different political and socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants engaged in structured discussions, where they were introduced to various positive linguistic frames about migration, migrants and refugees. Their reactions helped determine which narratives resonate most, which were met with resistance, and how public perceptions evolved when exposed to alternative viewpoints. This stage provided valuable insights into how communication strategies can be tailored to foster empathy, challenge misinformation, and ultimately encourage a more inclusive society.
Stage 3: Testing Impact on a Larger Scale
The final phase of RESONATE took the most promising linguistic frames identified in the focus groups and tested them on a larger, nationally representative sample. Using an online survey experiment, the project reached 1500 adults across Turkey, and evaluated how different messaging strategies influence public attitudes toward refugees and migrants across Turkey. By combining qualitative and quantitative research methods, RESONATE generated evidence-based recommendations for civil society organizations, equipping them with powerful tools to challenge xenophobic narratives and promote social cohesion.
Traditional research on public attitudes toward refugees and migrants tends to focus on extracting existing opinions—asking direct questions like:
“What do you think about refugees and migrants?”
“Would you be willing to have a refugee as a neighbor or colleague?”
These methods often confirm negative perceptions rather than challenge them. Worse, they provide ammunition for far-right groups seeking to entrench xenophobia as a "fact." But public opinion is not a fixed reality—it is shaped by context, discourse, and framing.
Rather than simply measuring prevailing sentiments, RESONATE seeks to change them. The project investigates how strategic communication—framing migration through human rights, cultural heritage, and shared values—can shift public attitudes. Our research is not about reporting what people already think; it’s about exploring how narratives can be reimagined to replace racism and hate speech with empathy and solidarity. In many host countries, a significant portion of society rarely encounters narratives that present refugees and migrants as equals—individuals with rights, dignity, and contributions to make. Instead, dominant discourses frequently paint them as outsiders, threats, or burdens, reinforcing prejudice and deepening societal divisions. At the same time, people are less likely to engage with discussions that challenge these stigmatizing perspectives. Messages emphasizing the human rights, cultural diversity, and positive contributions of migrants often struggle to break through the noise of far-right rhetoric. This is where RESONATE steps in.
By providing evidence-based, effective communication strategies, RESONATE empowers civil society organizations, advocacy groups, and policymakers with the tools they need to reshape public conversations on migration. The findings of this project will strengthen democratic, rights-based organizations in Turkey and beyond, equipping them with powerful, research-backed narratives to counteract stigma, hate speech, and polarization.
“What do you think about refugees and migrants?”
“Would you be willing to have a refugee as a neighbor or colleague?”
These methods often confirm negative perceptions rather than challenge them. Worse, they provide ammunition for far-right groups seeking to entrench xenophobia as a "fact." But public opinion is not a fixed reality—it is shaped by context, discourse, and framing.
Rather than simply measuring prevailing sentiments, RESONATE seeks to change them. The project investigates how strategic communication—framing migration through human rights, cultural heritage, and shared values—can shift public attitudes. Our research is not about reporting what people already think; it’s about exploring how narratives can be reimagined to replace racism and hate speech with empathy and solidarity. In many host countries, a significant portion of society rarely encounters narratives that present refugees and migrants as equals—individuals with rights, dignity, and contributions to make. Instead, dominant discourses frequently paint them as outsiders, threats, or burdens, reinforcing prejudice and deepening societal divisions. At the same time, people are less likely to engage with discussions that challenge these stigmatizing perspectives. Messages emphasizing the human rights, cultural diversity, and positive contributions of migrants often struggle to break through the noise of far-right rhetoric. This is where RESONATE steps in.
By providing evidence-based, effective communication strategies, RESONATE empowers civil society organizations, advocacy groups, and policymakers with the tools they need to reshape public conversations on migration. The findings of this project will strengthen democratic, rights-based organizations in Turkey and beyond, equipping them with powerful, research-backed narratives to counteract stigma, hate speech, and polarization.