Concluding Remarks

Summary

The peasantry, which underwent a decline in developing countries, declined so slowly in Turkey that it persisted until the mid-1980s. As is well known, this was partially due to the structural limitations of Turkey’s industrialization and modernization. This part has revealed another important but lesser-known reason – that is, the peasants’ struggle to survive and the resulting social conflicts that further delayed the dissolution of the peasantry. Well aware of the unpopularity of the government, especially among the rural population, the decision makers tried to contain rural discontent through social and economic schemes as well as coercion. The result was the preservation of the peasantry and agriculture despite steady industrialization.