Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T18:50:01.721Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) revisited: The evolution of GAP over forty years

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2018

Arda Bilgen
Arda Bilgen*
Affiliation:
Center for Development Research(Zentrum für Entwicklungsforschung, ZEF), University of Bonn, Genscherallee 3, 53113 Bonn, Germany; [email protected].
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The Southeastern Anatolia Project (Güneydoğu Anadolu Projesi, GAP) is arguably the largest regional development project ever witnessed in Turkey. Begun in the 1970s, GAP initially aimed primarily at the construction of 22 dams and 19 hydroelectric power plants on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and of extensive irrigation networks to produce hydroelectric energy and water 1.8 million hectares of land in southeastern Turkey. Later, the scope of GAP broadened significantly as it became a more ambitious and comprehensive scheme of modernization and transformation. Following this expansion, the multidimensionality of GAP and its multifaceted implications became clearer at both the national and international level. The project grew more visible and influential not only in political and public discourses, but also in the GAP region itself. Despite these developments, however, the question of how the project’s characteristics, vocabulary, rationales, and mechanisms have changed since its inception remains underdiscussed. This article asks what GAP was in the past and what it has more recently become. It examines the gradual transformation of GAP over forty years by specifically taking into account the continuities and ruptures in development discourse, theory, and practice since the 1950s. In this way, the article aims to provide a new perspective regarding the stages through which the project has passed to reach its current form.

Keywords

developmentregional developmentlarge-scale hydroprojectsthe Southeastern Anatolia ProjectGAP
Type
Articles
Information
New Perspectives on Turkey , Volume 58 , May 2018 , pp. 125 - 154
Copyright
© New Perspectives on Turkey and Cambridge University Press 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Author’s Note: I would like to thank Conrad Schetter and Katja Mielke for their helpful comments on an earlier version of this article.

References

Akşit, Bahattin, Mutlu, Kayhan, Nalbantoğlu, H. Ünal, Akçay, Adnan and Şen, Mustafa. “Population Movements of an Empirical Research in 1993.” New Perspectives on Turkey 14 (1996): 53–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Altınbilek, Doğan and Tortajada, Cecilia. “The Atatürk Dam in the Context of the Southeastern Anatolia (GAP) Project.” In Impacts of Large Dams: A Global Assessment, Water Resources Development and Management. Edited by Cecilia Tortajada, Doğan Altınbilek, and Asit K. Biswas. Berlin: Springer, 2012. 171–199.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andrews, Nathan and Bawa, Sylvia. “A Post-development Hoax? (Re)-examining the Past, Present and Future of Development Studies.” Third World Quarterly 35 (2014): 922–935.Google Scholar
Bağış, Ali İhsan. GAP: Southeastern Anatolia Project: The Cradle of Civilization Regenerated. İstanbul: İnterbank, 1989.Google Scholar
Baran, Paul. The Political Economy of Growth. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1957.Google Scholar
Beleli, Özsel. “Regional Policy and EU Accession: Learning from the GAP Experience.” Turkish Policy Quarterly 4 (2005): 87–96.Google Scholar
Bennett, Cary. “Supporting the Posts in Development Discourse: Under-development, Over-development, Post-development.” Sociology Compass 6 (2012): 974–986.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bilgen, Arda. “A Project of Destruction, Peace, or Techno-Science? Untangling the Relationship Between the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) and the Kurdish Question in Turkey.” Middle Eastern Studies 54, no. 1 (2018): 94–113.Google Scholar
Buch-Hansen, Mogens and Lauridsen, Laurids S.. “The Past, Present and Future of Development Studies.” Forum for Development Studies 39 (2012): 293–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bull, Benedicte and Bøås, Morten. “Between Ruptures and Continuity: Modernisation, Dependency and the Evolution of Development Theory.” Forum for Development Studies 39 (2012): 319–336.Google Scholar
Chant, Sylvia and McIlwaine, Cathy. Geographies of Development in the 21st Century: An Introduction to the Global South. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2009.Google Scholar
Devlet Planlama Teşkilatı (DPT). The Southeastern Anatolia Project Master Plan Study: Final Master Plan Report. Vol. 2. Tokyo: Nippon Koei Co. and Ankara: Yüksel Proje, 1989.Google Scholar
Devlet Su İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü (DSİ). GAP: Ülkemizin En Büyük Projesi Olan GAP’ın Dünü, Bugünü ve Yarını. Ankara: Devlet Su İşleri Genel Müdürlüğü, 2012.Google Scholar
Eade, Deborah. “Preface.” In Deconstructing Development Discourse: Buzzwords and Fuzzwords. Edited by Andrea Cornwall, and Deborah Eade. Rugby: Practical Action and Oxfam, 2010: vii–x.Google Scholar
Ertürk, Yakın. “Sosyolojik Bakış Açısıyla GAP.” GAP Dergisi 1, no. 3 (1993): 17–21.Google Scholar
Escobar, Arturo. Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1995.Google Scholar
Frank, Andre Gunder. “The Development of Underdevelopment.” Monthly Review 18 (1966): 17–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
GAP Bölge Kalkınma İdaresi (GAP-BKİ). GAP Bölgesi Hareket Planı (1993–1997). Ankara: GAP-BKİ, 1993.Google Scholar
GAP Bölge Kalkınma İdaresi (GAP-BKİ). GAP: Az Gelişmiş Bölgelerin Potansiyel Araştırma Toplantısı. Ankara: GAP-BKİ, 1996.Google Scholar
GAP Bölge Kalkınma İdaresi (GAP-BKİ). Güneydoğu Anadolu Projesi Bölge Kalkınma Planı: Ana Rapor. Vol. 2. Ankara: GAP-BKİ, 2002.Google Scholar
GAP Bölge Kalkınma İdaresi (GAP-BKİ). GAP Eylem Planı (2008–2012). Ankara: GAP-BKİ, 2008.Google Scholar
GAP Bölge Kalkınma İdaresi (GAP-BKİ). GAP Eylem Planı (2014–2018). Ankara: GAP-BKİ, 2014.Google Scholar
GAP Bölge Kalkınma İdaresi (GAP-BKİ). Klasik GAP Biterken. Ankara: GAP-BKİ, 2014.Google Scholar
GAP Bölge Kalkınma İdaresi (GAP-BKİ). Güneydoğu Anadolu Projesi: Son Durum. Ankara: GAP-BKİ, 2016.Google Scholar
GAP Bölge Kalkınma İdaresi (GAP-BKİ). Sosyo-Ekonomik Göstergeler: GAP-Türkiye. Ankara: GAP-BKİ, 2016.Google Scholar
GAP Bölge Kalkınma İdaresi (GAP-BKİ). Performans Programı 2017 . Ankara: GAP-BKİ, 2017.Google Scholar
GAP Girişimci Destekleme Merkezleri (GAP-GİDEM). Competitiveness Agenda for the GAP Region: GAP Entrepreneur Support Centers Project. UNDP, 2007.Google Scholar
GAP Regional Development Administration (GAP-RDA). GAP Regional Transportation and Infrastructure Development Study Final Report: Executive Summary. Ankara: GAP-RDA, 1993.Google Scholar
GAP Regional Development Administration (GAP-RDA). Southeastern Anatolia Project Social Action Plan. Ankara: GAP-RDA, 1999.Google Scholar
Gökçe, Birsen, Kasapoğlu, Aytül, Kaya, Nilay Çabuk and Güler, Zuhal. Bölgesel Kalkınmanın Can Suyu GAP: Karşılaştırmalı Sosyal ve Ekonomik Yapı Araştırması. Ankara: GAP-BKİ and Sosyoloji Derneği, 2010.Google Scholar
Karasu, Koray. “Kalkınma Ajansları: ‘Modelimi Kaybettim. Hükümsüzdür’ (Ölçek Siyasetinin Yerelliği).” SBF Dergisi 70 (2015): 273–316.Google Scholar
Kibaroğlu, Ayşegül, Başkan, Argun and Alp, Sezin. “Neo-liberal Transitions in Hydropower and Irrigation Water Management in Turkey: Main Actors and Opposition Groups.” In Water Policy Entrepreneurs: A Research Companion to Water Transitions Around the Globe. Edited by Dave Huitema, and Sander Meijerink. Cheltenham and Northampton: Edward Elgar, 2009. 287–304.Google Scholar
Kibaroğlu, Ayşegül. “GAP: A Grand Design for Sustainable Development.” Economy and Territory 1 (2006): 178–180.Google Scholar
Kut, Sema. “GAP Bölgesel Kalkınma ve Sosyal Hizmet.” In Sosyal Hizmet Sempozyumu ’99: Bölgesel Kalkınma Sürecinde Sosyal Hizmet. Edited by GAP-BKİ and Hacettepe Üniversitesi. Ankara: GAP-BKİ and Hacettepe Üniversitesi, 1999. 27–31.Google Scholar
Laclau, Ernesto. Emancipation(s). London: Verso, 1996.Google Scholar
Leys, Colin. The Rise and Fall of Development Theory. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1996.Google Scholar
Mengi, Ayşegül. “Regions and Regional Planning in EU and Turkey.” GAP Review 9 (2001): 30–34.Google Scholar
Millî Güvenlik Kurulu Genel Sekreterliği. Türkiye’de Bölge Planlamasının Evreleri. Ankara: Millî Güvenlik Kurulu, 1993.Google Scholar
Mutlu, Servet. “The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) of Turkey: Its Context, Objectives, and Prospects.” Orient 37 (1996): 59–86.Google Scholar
Öktem, Kerem. “When Dams are Built on Shaky Grounds: Policy Choice and Social Performance of Hydro-Project Based Development in Turkey.” Erdkunde 56 (2002): 310–325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Özer, Ahmet. Modernleşme ve Güneydoğu. Ankara: İmge, 1998.Google Scholar
Pieterse, Jan Nederveen. “After Post-development.” Third World Quarterly 21 (2000): 175–191.Google Scholar
Pottier, Johan. “The Role of Ethnography in Project Appraisal.” In Practising Development: Social Science Perspectives. Edited by Johan Pottier. London and New York: Routledge, 2003. 13–34.Google Scholar
Sachs, Wolfgang. “Introduction.” In The Development Dictionary: A Guide to Knowledge as Power. Edited by Wolfgang Sachs. London and New York: Zed, 2010. xv–xx.Google Scholar
Turgut, Hulusi. GAP ve Demirel. İstanbul: ABC, 2000.Google Scholar
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TBMM). Tutanak Dergisi. Term 4, Meeting 2, Sitting 38. February 12, 1975.Google Scholar
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TBMM). Tutanak Dergisi. Term 4, Meeting 2, Sitting 63. April 9, 1975.Google Scholar
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TBMM). Tutanak Dergisi. Term 17, Year 2, Sitting 47. December 19, 1984.Google Scholar
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TBMM). Tutanak Dergisi. Term 18, Year 1, Sitting 14. January 27, 1988.Google Scholar
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TBMM). Tutanak Dergisi. Term 18, Year 1, Sitting 34. March 15, 1988.Google Scholar
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TBMM). Tutanak Dergisi. Term 18, Year 3, Sitting 103. April 17, 1990.Google Scholar
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TBMM). Tutanak Dergisi. Term 19, Year 1, Sitting 52. March 16, 1992.Google Scholar
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TBMM). Tutanak Dergisi. Term 22, Year 3, Sitting 14. November 4, 2004.Google Scholar
Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TBMM). Tutanak Dergisi. Term 24, Year 2, Sitting 131. July 3, 2012.Google Scholar
Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK). Gelir ve Yaşam Koşulları Araştırması Bölgesel Sonuçları, 2015. Ankara: TÜİK, 2016.Google Scholar
Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK). Seçilmiş Göstergelerle İstanbul, 2013. Ankara: TÜİK, 2014.Google Scholar
Ünver, İ. H. Olcay. “Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP).” Water Resources Development 13, no. 4 (1997): 453–483.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ünver, İ. H. Olcay and Gupta, Rajiv K.. “A New Perspective on Water Development and Poverty Reduction in Southeastern Anatolia, Turkey.” In Water Development and Poverty Reduction. Edited by İ. H. Olcay Ünver, Rajiv K. Gupta, and Ayşegül Kibaroğlu. New York: Springer, 2003. 231–261.Google Scholar
Wallerstein, Immanuel. “After Developmentalism and Globalization, What?” Social Forces 83 (2005): 1263–1278.Google Scholar
Warner, Jeroen. Flood Planning: The Politics of Water Security. London and New York: I.B. Tauris, 2011.Google Scholar
Ziai, Aram. “‘Development’: Projects, Power, and a Poststructuralist Perspective.” Alternatives 34 (2009): 183–201.Google Scholar