Agricultural land change, planning and urbanisation: a case study from Erzurum, Türkiye (1940–2022)

Abstract

ABSTRACT The choices made by governments in different historical periods in pursuit of economic and social development directly impact urbanization processes. This study adopts a theoretical framework involving a layered approach in order to understand the urbanization processes in Türkiye. Particular focus is on Erzurum, as a settlement that evolved from a mid-sized Anatolian town into a metropolis, as well as the environmental effects of urban development, especially on the sustainability of agricultural land, in the light of theoretical debates. The development plans of the city of Erzurum are analysed to understand the path of evolution from the urbanization of the nation-state to the urbanization of capital, which is a topic of particular interest in urban literature, revealing that this capital held decision-making processes in the planning field in its grip, whether at a central or local level.