Construction of the Neoliberal Subject through Rural Development Planning in Turkey

Şafak Çubukçu Ö.

Erzurum Teknik Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, sa.18, ss.1-17, 2024 (TRDizin)

Özet

The implementation of neoliberal policies in the agricultural sector in Türkiye has yielded adverse consequences for rural population, which necessitated a change in rural development policies. This study contributes to the literature by asserting that the new form of policies involves construction of the neoliberal subject in rural areas. The objective is analysing the dynamics of planning in this process, the method includes a qualitative analysis of national and regional development plans from a critical lens focused on neoliberal subjectivity. Furthermore, it examines the place of women, as emerging rural actors. Under new policies, rather than compelling rural actors to migrate to economically more developed regions, individuals are encouraged to transform within their own context. This leads rural individuals to acquire the requisite skills aligned with market dynamics, as evidenced in this study. They should enhance their employability and entrepreneurial capacities, by investing in their human capital. The study also reveals that the state plays a facilitating role, by shifting responsibility to both individuals and local institutions, while also ensuring the harmonization of diverse regional practices at the national level.