During the early republican period architectural interventions in rural Turkey took the form
of social engineering as part of the state's modernization and nationalization policies. Özge
Sezer demonstrates how the state's particular programs had a powerful effect on rural life in
the countryside. She examines the regime's goals and strategies for controlling the rural
people through development projects and demographic shaping to create a strong Turkish identity
and a loyal citizenry. The book outlines the implementation of new rural settlements
particularly following the 1934 Settlement Law with a geographic focus on two cities - Izmir
and Elazig - with varied socio-economic and ethnic standing in the state program.
