Alanya Foreigners Council: The Example of Participations of Foreigners in Local Administration

Residents foreign population is on the rise in Turkey, especially on the coast of the Aegean and Mediterranean Regions. As per the data of the General Directorate of Immigration Administration, in Turkey the legal residents foreign population was 178.964 in 2005, it increased to 461.217 in the year 2016. According to this data, one of the cities where the foreign population is dense is Antalya with 53,278 residence permits issued to foreign nationals. In Antalya, the district of Muratpasa is most populated and then it is the district of Alanya. In the European countries where the foreign population is high in number and dense, the Foreigners’ Council model is an example of how to participate in local governance. The first example of this model in Turkey; is the Alanya Foreigners Council established in 2004, where a large number of resident foreigners reside. This article aims to introduce Alanya Foreigners Council, types of participation in governance, establishment, history, purpose and related activities of the Alanya Foreigners Council. Finally, the article will delve into the relation between the City Council and Alanya Foreigners Council and their respective contributions