A Century of Industrialization in Turkey: Searching for Continuity and Transformations

The question of whether industrialization, defined as one of the economic as well as social objectives worldwide after World War II, is a prerequisite for development remains one of the significant areas of debate today. Discussions on industrialization also fluctuate in line with the mainstream propositions of the era. In the past 40 years, known as the era of globalization, where accumulation opportunities based on financial capital have rapidly expanded, industrialization in Turkey is still maintained as a goal at the discourse level. However, it is observed that industrialization policies tend to repeat themselves. Within this context, the main objective of this study is to reveal the continuity and transformations in the conceptions and efforts of industrialization in Turkey over the last century. The study first addresses the conceptual and historical background of industrialization, followed by an examination of the continuity and transformations in the perception and efforts of industrialization in Turkey during the specific period. This analysis is carried out within the framework of two sub-periods: the protectionist era (1920-1980) and the neo-liberal era (1980-2022), which highlight the changes in industrialization policies. In this study, industrialization, goals, and policies have been evaluated during specific periods, considering the prominence of the international climate crisis agenda and the process of transformation in the global industry in the context of digitalization in the economy from 2030 to 2050. Additionally, the roadmap that Turkey needs to follow within the framework of its aim to reindustrialize in the 21st century has been discussed.