Kilis’te Sosyo-Mekânsal Ayrışma, Sınır ve Kimlik
Socio-Spatial Differentiation, Border and Identity at Kilis

Summary/Abstract: Borders have become the most important indicators of modern nation-states, especially in the last 200 years. Borders, as the manifestation of politics in geography, have also initiated the construction of two different geographies from the moment they were drawn. A common social identity and perception of homeland is built within the borders of nation-states. This article focuses on the socio-spatial differentiation of the societies that shared a common geography, after they were divided by a border drawn 100 years ago. The construction of two separate geographies began with these borders drawn by the Ankara Treaty signed with the French in 1921. Different nation-state building processes have been experienced on both sides of the border, with different strategies, discourses and narratives. This study analyses the socio-spatial differentiations on the Kilis side of the border, through discourses and narratives about the border. In this study in-depth interviews were conducted with seven participants who have lived in the border region for a long time and have experience on both sides of the border. In the interviews, participants' perceptions of the border and their discourses and narratives about the other side of the border were analysed and traces of socio-spatial differentiations were sought. The findings showed that the social and spatial differentiations occurred on three main themes: identity/culture, religion and history/economy. The relationship with the border in Kilis has always been multidimensional and complicated. Above all, the border has created two different geographies by dividing a common geography socially and spatially.

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