Scientific mission in Belgrade to analyse the mobilisation of anti-immigrant sentiments and conspiracy theories

COST Action COREnet member Prof. Rabia Karakaya Polat from Işık University, Istanbul, Turkey, visited Singidunum University in Belgrade, Serbia, to implement her Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) funded by COREnet.

Prof. Rabia Karakaya Polat conducted STSM in Belgrade to explore how anti-immigrant sentiments and conspiracy theories are mobilised in Turkey, with a focus on the far-right Zafer Party. The mission was hosted by Dr. Jasna Milošević, whose work on conspiracy theories on migration in Serbia provided a comparative framework.

The research investigated how the Zafer Party combines emotional appeals with conspiracy narratives to depict Syrian refugees as a threat to national identity. This framing, which blends fear, resentment, and a sense of victimhood, reflects broader European patterns in populist politics but also draws on local historical narratives unique to Turkey.

Through this collaborative visit, the researchers engaged in interdisciplinary dialogue, merging perspectives from political science, social psychology, and discourse analysis. While the Turkish case was central, comparisons with Serbian political dynamics enriched the analysis, revealing how conspiracy theories travel across borders and adapt to national contexts.

This STSM laid the foundation for a long-term collaboration between Prof. Polat and Dr. Milošević that will continue beyond the initial visit. Two major follow-up initiatives are already underway. A co-authored journal article is in preparation, focusing on how the Zafer Party’s discourse blends conspiracy theories with emotional framings of migration. Drawing on qualitative insights, the article will offer an interdisciplinary perspective on far-right mobilisation and is planned for submission in autumn 2025.

Additionally, a joint research proposal is being developed for submission. This project aims to explore the public reception of anti-refugee discourse in Turkey through a large-scale national survey. It will empirically assess how emotions such as fear, pride, and resentment shape citizens’ responses to political messaging around migration. If funded, the project will generate original data and significantly contribute to COREnet’s goals of linking theory and policy on migration debates.

The mission has already resulted in public engagement. Prof. Polat published an op-ed titled “Belgrade Observations: Nationalism, Memory, Migration, and the Multi-layered Ottoman Legacy” in a Turkish media outlet, bringing COREnet’s themes into public discussion.