Turkey's Policy Research Articles

The transformation of the primary health care system for Syrian refugees in Turkey

This article analyzes Turkey's policy response to the health needs of Syrian refugees since 2011. The innovations in immigration health policy cannot be explained solely on the basis of factors exogenous to the health sector, such as the massive arrival of Syrian refugees, the gradual Europeanization of Turkish immigration policy or new funding from the European Union. They also display several stages of endogenous learning driven by a reassessment of problems and reevaluation of preferences by Turkish authorities. The paper aims to explain three successive stages of Turkey's organization of migrant health care services: a pre-institutionalization stage in which existing facilities were repurposed, the establishment of the first dedicated migrant health centers and promotion of partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and finally the employment of Syrian medical professionals and the decreasing role of NGOs in migrant health centers following the impact of the 2016 European Facility for Refugees in Turkey.

Turkish Role of Syrian Crises

The role of Turkey towards Syria that has become arena of con-flict for various global and regional powers and everyone is looking for the role. Turkey was one where these forces had a role and attitudes towards the Syrian crisis and the most prominent of the Syrian regime change. And Turkey is seeking to impose their role in the crisis through cooperation with its factors and political and military, economic and social, Turkey did not resort to the use of military intervention effectively so far because it is well aware that it does not support entering battle is calculated in its results as it does not want to engage in an open war so it was interfering in the bombing of some state regulation sites (Daash) and some PKK sites its role is to confirm and inform everyone that it exists and Turkey strongly that in the course of this crisis and the movements of Turkey towards the crisis. Be calculated and coordinated and in line with the movements of the United States became clear in order to employ these capabilities available to support Turkey's role regional as main objectives in Turkey's regional policy and is to maintain a unified sovereign Turkish territory and integrity and achieve significant economic progress and strengthen the position of Turkey as a force pivotal regional by Decrease, Turkey has been able to adapt its policy in line with international and regional realities making Turkey is able to lead the region and take advantage of the collapse of the Arab national security system and the absence of balance in the region.

Religious Pluralism and Religion-State Relations in Turkey

In this article, I examine religion-state relations and religious pluralism in Turkey in terms of recent changes in the religious landscape. I propose that there is a growing trend in the religious sphere that has resulted in a proliferation of religions, sects and spiritual approaches in Turkey. I argue that although the religious market model might not be applicable to the Turkish religious sphere during the republican era until the 2000s due to the restrictions applied by the state’s authoritarian secularist policies, it is compatible with today’s changing society. Different religious groups as well as spiritual movements have used the democratization process of the 2000s in Turkey as an opportunity to proselytize various faiths and understandings of Islam, with both traditional and modernist forms. In this period, new religious movements have also appeared. Thus, the Turkish religious landscape has recently become much more complicated than it was two decades earlier. I plan for this descriptive work firstly to provide an insight into the history of religious pluralism and state policies in Turkey. Secondly, I will discuss the religious policies of the republican period and, thirdly, I will evaluate recent developments such as the increasing number of approaches in the religious sphere within the scope of the religious market model.

Turkey’s Minority Policy after the Treaty of Lausanne

In reference to the Treaty of Lausanne only non-Muslims were recognized as minorities in Turkey. Issues such as the definition of minorities and the rights of the minorities caused long debates during the Lausanne Conference and the Turkish delegation insisted on the determination of minorities only by religious distinction. Although the treaty indicates a general statement that non-Muslims to be considered as minorities, Turkey has narrowed the meaning of this statement and recognized only Greeks, Armenians and Jews as minorities. Non-Muslims other than these three groups are not officially considered to be of minority status. Besides, the privileges of the Greek and Armenian Patriarchs and Rabbinate given by the Ottoman Empire were abolished. Despite the narrowed recognition, the state's approach to minorities was shaped by a general sense of mistrust in the early periods. The main reason for this was the clashes between Muslim and non-Muslim subjects during the armistice. The armistice period continued to be effective in the determination of Turkey's minority policies for a long time. 

Turkey's Soft Power Policy towards the Balkans after the 1990's: Challenges and Opportunities

Turkey's Soft Power Policy towards the Balkans after the 1990's: Challenges and Opportunities

Turkey's Flour Exports Under the Inward Processing Regime

In recent years, Turkey has become the world’s leader in flour exports although there is no significant increase in the domestic wheat production. The increase in flour exports depends on wheat imports which is supported by the Inward Processing Regime. While these policies may hinder domestic wheat production, only half of the existing flour production capacity can be utilized in the country. To date, no studies have been found to address this issue in the literature. The purpose of this article is to examine Turkey’s wheat imports and flour exports under the inward processing regime with the help of an auto-regressive distributed lag model. Price and exchange rate elasticities of flour exports are also estimated with the model employed. The results indicate that wheat policy of Turkey may be misguided.

2000 After Inflation Effects of Domestic Debt Management Policy in Turkey

Kamunun küçültülmesi politikaları ve bu kapsamda kamu gelirlerinin azaltılması sonucu oluşan kamu açıklarının ve kamu harcamalarının borçlanma ile finanse edilmesi, devamında bütçeye faiz yükü getirerek borcun parasallaşmasına, sürdürülemeyen borç sarmallarına ve makroekonomik birçok dengede bozulmalara yol açmaktadır. Kamu kesimi finansman dengesinde meydana gelen kamu açıkları ise makroekonomik göstergelerin en önemli yapı taşlarından biri olan enflasyonun temel kaynağı olarak görülmektedir. Bu bağlamda enflasyon ile mücadelede etkin, şeffaf, yasal bir çerçeveye oturtulmuş, borçlanmada oluşabilecek riskleri gözetebilecek bir iç borç yönetim politikasının oluşturulması ve doğru bir şekilde yürütülmesi büyük önem arz etmektedir. Bu bağlamda Türkiye’de 2000 sonrası iç borç yönetimi politikasının enflasyona etkisi başlıklı bu çalışmada enflasyon ve iç borç yönetimi ilişkisi ele alınarak yürütülen politikalar ve bu politikaların etkinliği ele alınacaktır.

Project Funds As a Management Model and Alignment of EU Funded Special Education Projects with National Policies in Turkey

This study seeks to assess the extent to which EU-funded projects administered by schools and other institutions are aligned with the strategic priorities adopted by Turkey’s Ministry of National Education (MoNE). With this objective in mind, the thematic distributions of projects in the field of special needs education were examined and the policy priorities stated in documents composed by MoNE were comparatively evaluated. The study followed a qualitative research model by conducting document analysis to inspect a total of 158 Erasmus+ projects funded by the EU between 2012 and 2017. The projects were analyzed according to their numerical and financial distributions by year, geographical region, institution type, and disabled groups within the target population. Furthermore, content analysis was applied to examine projects’ thematic distributions. The study concluded that project funds are disproportionately distributed to institution types, target groups, and geographical regions and that projects’ strategic alignment with Ministry policies needs to be strengthened, especially in terms of how project funds are used. Finally, it is recommended that the distribution and use of international funds be structured in line with the policy priorities adopted by the Turkish National Education System and that cooperation between policy makers and executers not only in the allocation of funds but also in their administrative, financial, and legal management processes be strengthened.

Rural population mobility, deforestation, and urbanization: case of Turkey.

The benefits of the forests are well known and are by their existence alone an amenity. Nonetheless, urbanization as one of the most remarkable features of social development has immense effects on forest resources and land use. In this study, it is hypothesized that there are temporal interactions among the rural population dynamics, urbanization, and forest resources. Data set is based on rural population, total population, and forest areas for the period of 1990-2017. Regression analysis (the ordinary least square, OLS) and dummy variable in regression were used by taking the years into consideration. The coefficient of total population in the regression model developed in our study was positive, which means with the increasing total population, there is an increase in forest areas as well, contrary to common opinion in the literature. With this study, a positive/linear temporal relation between the forest area and urbanization via the regression statistics was determined. There is a significant inverse relation between rural population decline and forest area increase too. Our results provide also a compelling evidence that rural population mobility, afforestation, and forestry policy have strong effects and play an important role over the forest management and forest policy in Turkey.

The role of Public Diplomacy in foreign policy of Turkey towards Georgia

The article is devoted to the analysis of the role of public diplomacy in Turkey’s foreign policy towards Georgia. Special attention is paid to the processes of conceptualization and institutionalization of Turkish public diplomacy. The author examines its goals and objectives. The attention is focuses on main institutions of Turkish public diplomacy, which implement cultural, humanitarian and educational projects in Georgia. The phenomenon of Turkish TV series are analyzed as one of the tools for creating an attractive image of the country in Georgian society. The level of effectiveness of Turkish public diplomacy towards Georgia is determined. In the context of this assessment, the image of Turkey is studied, as well as its ability to influence the political decisions of Georgia. General conclusions are made in regard to the Turkey foreign policy towards Georgia for the effectiveness of vector, its shortcomings are pointed out and further progress is noted.

Sürdürülebilir Kentsel Gelişmenin Elde edilmesinde Kentsel Dönüşüm Uygulamaları, Konya Kenti Örneği

In Turkey, urban regeneration projects are being used as an important land policy instrument to achieve sustainable development. However, the failure to meet residents’ expectations and to establish a sound legal framework, together with a and failure to establish an effective dialogue with the stakeholders, all have implications for the sustainability and eventual success of these policies. Firstly, this study is an examination of urban land development policies in Turkey, focusing on problems of urbanization and land management. Subsequently, urban regeneration projects in Konya, Turkey, were studied from an urban land development perspective and a proposal made for spatial objectives in an area planned for urban regeneration. The purpose of this study is to present spatial solutions the physical and social structural problems experienced in the old city center of the province of Konya in Turkey with urban regeneration applications, which are implementation methods for sustainable estate policies. For this purpose, firstly the methods that are used in Turkey for implementation of urban estate policies were examined in the light of the literature. Then, the urbanization-related problems in the selected site of urban regeneration were presented, and spatial solution recommendations were made in relation to renewal of the physical structure and increasing the quality of life. This study is important in terms of presenting and discussing the process of creating spatial-functional goals for producing sustainable estate policies and urban regeneration applications related to the urban sprawl, property issues and social structure problems that occur in city centers that are getting old.

The perspectives of politicians on tobacco control in Turkey.

BackgroundTobacco use is a leading but preventable cause of non-communicable diseases and premature death. The legislature has a key role in setting tobacco control policies. Smoking trends are decreasing thanks to the introduction of effective tobacco control policies in Turkey and these policies may have been shaped by how politicians’ interpreted social problems that were prominent during the development and implementation of tobacco regulations.AimThis paper explores the long-term national relationship between tobacco consumption, tobacco control policies and the associated political discourse in Turkey, considering the varying influences through national leadership on this important public health agenda. This relationship is studied by comparing a time series analysis of tobacco consumption trends with a policy analysis of the minutes of deliberations at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT).MethodsThis study uses Bayesian time series analysis in order investigate whether the tobacco control policies and related activities influenced the annual per adult cigarette consumption in Turkey. We used a novel method to identify change points in tobacco trends and whether they correspond with key policy changes intended to alter usage after adjusting for the effect of other non-policy related covariates, such as the purchasing power. The policy analysis included an examination of the minutes of deliberations at the GNAT—which is the Turkish parliament and unicameral Turkish legislature—1 year before and 1 year after the break years associated with an increase or decrease in tobacco consumption.Results and recommendationsTobacco consumption increased with the encouragement of tobacco production and the entrance of multinational companies in the country in 1976 and 1993, respectively. The National Tobacco Law of 1996 and comprehensive amendments in 2008, including smoke-free public places and tax increases, appear to have helped reduce tobacco consumption in Turkey. The focus of Parliamentary discussions throughout this period changed, becoming less supportive of tobacco over time. However, throughout the period there remained discussions focussing on concerns around the implications for the economy and the privatization agenda, national agriculture and the welfare of farmers. Effective control appears to require certain political ingredients to be implemented: politicians who are well informed on tobacco control measures and understand the range of issues surrounding the policies (not only those directly health-related); and supportive public health information in the community. Evidence-based public health policy should be introduced to the politicians.

Relative effectiveness of monetary and fiscal policies on output growth in Turkey: an ARDL bounds test approach

Research background: Effects of monetary and fiscal policy on output growth has been one of the major topics that economists have been investigating. Monetary and fiscal policies are tools for economists and policymakers to correctly direct the economy and facilitate the growth and development of the country. Accordingly, it is critically important for policy-makers in the area of economy to study the efficiency and the effectiveness of such policies. But, so far, there has been no generally accepted evidence suggesting the effectiveness of either the policy in Turkey or around the world. Instead, the dominance of either policy is subject to a change period to period and country to country.
 Purpose of the article: The purpose of this study is to analyze the growth effectiveness of fiscal and monetary policies and then determine which of these two policies is more powerful in promoting economic growth in Turkey over the period 1998 and 2016.
 Methods: To investigate the growth effectiveness of monetary and fiscal policies, we use some of the time series econometric techniques, such as ARDL Bounds testing, structural break unit root tests and Granger causality tests.
 Findings & Value added: Monetary policy variable is creating only short-run effects on growth; but, it?s not causing any Granger causality on it. On the other hand, fiscal policy variable has a long-run significant effect and causing to growth. Thus, the fiscal policy seems to be more effective than monetary policy during examination period, implying the rethinking the implementation of both policies in Turkey. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first attempt to investigate the relative effectiveness of economic policies on growth in Turkey in terms of both methods used and period chosen.

2000 Sonrası Türkiye’de Neo-liberal Ekonomi Politikalar; Mimarlık ve Mimarlar

20. yüzyılın egemen iktisadi politikası olan neo-liberalizm, birçok alanda olduğu gibi inşaat sektörü için de yönlendirici güç olmuştur. Türkiye’de 1980’lerin sonundan itibaren neo-liberal ekonominin hayata geçirilmesiyle, mimarlık mesleği özel sermaye ile daha fazla yüz yüze gelmeye başlamış ve bu yüz yüze gelme durumu mimarlık pratiğine ve mimara yansımıştır. Bu noktadan hareket eden çalışmanın amacı, 21. yüzyılda Türkiye’de neo-liberal ekonomi politikaların mimarlık mesleğini, mimarı ve mimarın eğitimini ne şekilde etkilediğini incelemektir. Bu amaçla yapılan dönemsel okumalar ve araştırmalar sonucunda, Türkiye’de neo-liberal siyasanın itici gücüyle yapı sektörüne dayalı bir kalkınma politikasının benimsenmesiyle mimarlık okullarının ve mimarların sayısının kontrolsüz bir artışa maruz kaldığı tespit edilmiş ve buna bağlı olarak mimarın işgücü niteliğinin sıradanlaştığı gözlenmiştir.

Bilgi ve İletişim Çağında Bilimsel Bilgiye Erişimin Önemi ve Türkiye nin Bilgiye Erişim Potansiyeli (In the Information and Communication Age, the Importance of Accessing Scientific Information and the Information and Communication Potential of Turkey)

To produce information and disseminate it by publications and to stay informed by the information produced others are crucial in today’s information age. The measure of the development today depends on accessing information and producing it from the existent ones. Especially libraries and documentation centers are playing a vital role in the age of Industrial 4.0 and artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, little attention is given to information, the libraries and the books in our country. This is contrary to the requirements of the communication age. It is not possible to develop without reaching and producing information in time. In this context, the appropriate infrastructure for the science policy in Turkey must be strengthened urgently.

Social inclusion for whom and towards what end? A critical discourse analysis of youth and sport policies in Turkey

ABSTRACTThis article examines the social inclusion policy strategies of the Turkish Ministry of Youth and Sport (MYS). Using a critical discourse analysis, based on Norman Fairclough’s work (2012), the aim is to analyse the discourses used within policy-related documents regarding social inclusion, youth, and sport. In order to achieve this objective, we analysed 15 key documents, including annual activity reports, national youth and sport policy documents, and strategic plans produced by the Ministry. Findings revealed that the dominant discourses about young people seem to be embedded within neoliberal and neoconservative ideologies in which depoliticised notions of ‘employment/apprenticeship’ and ‘the family’ are put forward as solutions for the social inclusion of young people. However, such a discourse risks further sustaining the social exclusion of youth, denying their full citizenship.

Factors influencing the electricity generation preferences of Turkish citizens: Citizens' attitudes and policy recommendations in the context of climate change and environmental impact

Abstract Drawing on the findings of a survey on Turkish citizens' energy preferences, the aim of this study is to propose policy recommendations on Turkey's energy policies. To realise this aim, this study analyzes the attitudes and behaviours of the citizens of Turkish Republic concerning their preferences on electrical energy generation. This article scrutinizes the preferences of citizens on nuclear power plants (NPPs) and renewable energy sources (RES)-based power plants. Moreover, taking into consideration the issues of global warming and climate change, the article provides a separate analysis of how recent developments in these two issues affect citizens' preferences on electrical energy generation. Findings of the study indicate that a vast majority of Turkish citizens are against the establishment of NPPs in the country. The first choice in electricity generation is RES. RES endorsers state that RES-based power plants will result in no environmental problems and that they are willing to pay more for electricity in case of an increasing reliance on RES-based electricity generation. A vast majority of the respondents think that the prime consideration in electricity generation should be its effects on climate change.

An Examination of Teacher Employment Policies in Turkey and Different Countries

Teacher employment is important in terms of determining and assessing the quality of education in the educational system of a country. Policies on teacher employment are both determinants of teacher training process and affect many variables in education. Teacher employment should be assessed in the context of supply and demand balance, as is the case in all areas. The quota of teacher training institutions is determined in the direction of countries' teacher employment policies and those who select teaching as a career are directed to this profession. Inadequate balance between supply and demand and lack of cooperation between teacher-training institutions and teacher-employing institutions bring with it many problems. For this reason, there should be a strong co-operation link between teacher-training institutions and teacher-employing institutions. When the teacher training and employment processes of the countries are examined, different applications attract attention. The extent to which teachers' employment models and teacher salaries affect the quality of education is a matter that requires to be investigated. For this reason, this study aimed to examine the process of teacher employment in Turkey and some countries and to reveal the relationship between teacher employment processes and educational quality. To this end, employment models of different countries have been determined and their relations with education quality indicators have been examined. The research has reached the conclusion that teacher employment processes and teacher salaries are important and affect the educational quality. Therefore, the authors of this research thinks that it is necessary to rearrange the teacher education policies in our country to improve the quality of education.

Familialization of care arrangements in Turkey: questioning the social inclusion of ‘the invisible’

This paper examines the dynamics of care arrangements for children, persons with disabilities (PWD), and the elderly, who constitute the group of ‘the invisible’ in social policy in Turkey. The inv...

A Mixed-Methods Study of the Ex Post Funding Incentive Policy for Scholarly Publications in Turkey

Some governments around the world support researchers with financial bonuses for scholarly publications to encourage their productivity. This convergent parallel mixed-methods study investigated whether the ex post funding policy in Turkey, instituted in late 2015, has influenced the quantity and quality of scholarly publications, and whether it has affected the quality of faculty instructional services as measured by student satisfaction. In addition, the study examined whether the financial support provided as a source of motivation has led to any ethical problems. The results indicate that while the ex post funding system has helped increase the number of articles published in journals indexed in national databases, it seems to have resulted in a decrease in those published in international journals indexed by the Web of Science. The results also indicate that the practice of ex post funding seems to have led to an ethical problem in the renaming of Turkish academic congresses. Finally, the policy appears to have negatively affected student satisfaction with the services offered to them by faculty at state universities.