Sociology

A Gendered Review of Development-Induced Displacement and Resettlement in Turkey The Case of Tahtali Dam

Since the 1970s, more than 350,000 people have been dispossessed due to dam projects in Turkey (Ozkalayci  Icten 2005). The state claims 12,000 of those were relocated, while the rest had to migrate on their own (Ozkalayci  Icten 2005). Despite this scale, there have been very few attempts to study this phenomenon. Using the case of Tahtali Dam, this research will seek to understand the socio-economic and cultural effects of development-induced displacement and resettlement in Turkey.

Tahtali Dam was built in Izmir. It impounded eight settlements and displaced a population of 7,500 individuals (around 1400 households) in 1996 (DSI 1994). As per Resettlement Law (Law No.2510), the displacees had two options receiving cash compensation for their lost assets and resettling on their own, or bequeathing all their compensation money toward resettlement by the state. Amongst the 600 households that had opted for the state resettlement, 350 were identified as entitled for resettlement and were relocated to another town in Izmir. It is estimated that a high majority of the rest of the displacees had migrated to the urban centres in the vicinity.

As a last minute decision, a Kurdish community of 50 households were also resettled together with Tahtali Dam displaces.  This introduced an ethnic dimension to the phenomenon. These Kurdish people were displaced by Ataturk Dam which was built in 1992 in south-eastern Turkey, so they had been waiting to be resettled since then.

Using the case of Tahtali Dam, this research aims to explore development-induced displacement and resettlement in Turkey. It will specifically investigate how the livelihood strategies, gender, and generational roles were transformed over time.  It also studies how different groups responded to changing conditions and how ethnicity influenced the resettlement experience and vice versa. Former studies have for example, depicted how displacement deprives women by placing the cash value of the family assets in the male line, limits their access to common resources, and how it increases the violence against them (Colchester 2000 Colson 1995 Koenig 1995 Pandey  Rout 2004). Other studies suggest that displacement breaks down relationships between generations and can result in either sharpening or softening ethnic tensions in heterogeneous resettler groups (De Wet 2000). This study will also investigate how Cerneas model (1997), which proposes eight impoverishment risks associated with displacement, applies to the Tahtali case.

The research will adopt a phenomenological approach through six months of fieldwork. In addition to participant observation, the main research tools will be through oral history collection, in-depth semi-formal interviewing, and focus group discussions. The potential informants will be reached through purposive sampling. A representative sample of gender, generation, socio-economic standing, and ethnic background will be sought. The research will chronicle the narratives of both the displacees resettled by the state and those who had resettled on their own. It will also seek information from relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations.

This research explores the dilemma of development projects in Turkey. It makes a contribution toward establishing focused policies that will eliminate the adverse effects of displacement and resettlement. It will also be of interest to a wider international audience as the issues in Turkey have considerable generic applicability worldwide.