A Review On The Causasian Identity and Sense Of Belonging In The Diaspora

There are various factors that affect identity identification. Important changes in human life such as immigration and exile are effective in identification. While migrating, individuals take their identities with them, but their cultural interactions with their new environment differentiate them in the identification of individuals. The differentiation in an individual's identity definition causes changes in the sense of belonging over time. The new identity formation for Caucasians occurred with the 1864 exile. For centuries before the 1864 Exile, Caucasians lived on their own lands at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains. A new identity was formed for the Caucasians who were exiled after 1864: the diasporic identity. On the one hand, people define themselves with their ethnic identity, on the other hand, they make new identity definitions as a result of their interactions with the geographies they live in. In this study, it is aimed to create a literature review about the identity perception of Caucasians living in the diaspora and their sense of belonging to the society they live in. A literature review has been made with key words. The literature on the identity perceptions and sense of belonging of the Caucasians living in the Turkish diaspora has been examined, the literature on the Caucasians living in different diasporas was also included. It examines whether ethnic identity or diasporic identity definitions come to the fore in the identity definition of Caucasians living in the diaspora and the factors that affect their identity definitions. In most of the studies in the literature, it is stated that Caucasians define themselves with their ethnic identity and attribute positive meanings to their identities. The participants in the studies in the literature report that although they see the Caucasus as their homeland, they cannot give up their lives in the diaspora and they adapt. Although Caucasians living in the diaspora define themselves with their ethnic identities, they feel a sense of belonging to the land they live in.