The definition of the periphery can be made in in different ways, based on the concepts emphisized in different theoretical discussions. Correspondingly, different peripheries appear in Europe from the perspectives of these different definitions. The thesis puts forward five different definitions of the periphery / definition of the periphery based on income and income growth differentials / definition of the periphery by using economic structure, employment and population potentials / definition of the periphery based on welfare conditions / definition of the periphery based on externalities / and definition of the periphery based on endogenous growth dynamics. All these definitions produce different core-periphery maps of Europe. The evidence is based on the use of cluster analysis to identify different groups of regions homogenous in terms of variables that belong to every one of these five definitions. The result confirms that there are different peripheries in Europe. One region that is categorised as core can fall into a peripheral group in a different clasification. This shows that there is not only one type of periphery in Europe, but that different peripheries appear in case of the usage of different variables. The thesis also argues that there is a need for regional policies that do not the define the periphery as a homogenous area by considering only income differentials, but that identifies different peripheries that have different needs and problems, and devise instruments accordingly.

The aim of the thesis is to analyze the reasons and consequences of international labor migration of women workers into Turkey. With the process of new global restructuring, transformations in production structure and labor organization, and rise of informal economy widen the gap between different geographies and generate a tied demand and supply relation between female labor and service sector. Today millions of women who suffer from poverty leave their countries in order to sell their labor in another country. Turkey has been a popular destination for women from post-Soviet countries since the 1980s. Many of them enter Turkey legally in accordance with Turkish visa requirements but become illegal by overstaying and working in country. Service sectors absorb this female labor, and many of them are employed as live-in domestic workers. This study aims to investigate how macro factors of international migration like global restructuring and transformations in the informal economy affects meso and micro structures. In this context, this study focuses on the formation of intermediary agencies and particularly individual migratory experiences of post-Soviet women in Ankara.

Sheltering has been one of the basic rights of human beings during the history of civilization. As it is stated in the Article 25 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, dated 1948, housing right is one of the basic human rights. Therefore, housing is always taken as one of the core issues for the life of individuals and states undertake this matter on behalf of its citizens. However, a full supply of proper housing to meet the housing need of particularly low income groups is still an unresolved issue in many countries. Therefore, states take different actions for the solution of the issue. In Turkey, TOKI has become the single authority in meeting the housing need of lower income households. Within this context, this thesis focuses on the adequate supply of housing in meeting housing need in provinces and searched for the housing provision of TOKI as a governmental agency and a significant housing provider. In order to show this, a case study was conducted on provinces in Turkey by comparing the total number of dwelling units and dwelling units provided by TOKI with newly formed households / in addition by calculating the number of dwelling units per 1000 households per year. The case study covered the populations and annual housing starts in the municipalities of 81 provinces. The hypothesis of the thesis that expects to find mismatch between housebuilding by TOKI, which produces housing on publicly owned land, and housing need is not fully confirmed in this study. It appears that TOKI has intensified producing housing in many eastern and south-eastern provinces where the number of authorized housing built has been less than the need.

This study aims at elaborating the Integrated Lake Basin Management Planning (ILBM) approach, which is considered as a sustainable management model for lake basins, and evaluating the applicability of this approach in Turkey. ILBM considers both biophysical features and managerial requirements of lake basin systems. It pays attention to inherent dynamics between humans and nature. ILBM has been developed on the basis of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), which seeks the wise use of water / i.e. using water resources with reference to the conservation principles and thresholds. The study elaborates the ILBM planning and focuses on a case study, namely the Beysehir Lake Basin. Beysehir Lake is the third largest lake and biggest freshwater lake of Turkey. Its basin is important with the distinctive natural features it accommodates in two national parks, a special bird site, a special plant site and a natural protected site. However, improper use of the Lake&rsquo / s resources has threatened its natural and ecological qualities, despite the simultaneous conservation efforts. This study, having analyzed the past planning efforts on the Basin with regard to the ILBM principles and criteria, points to the insufficiencies in institutional structure and participation. Meanwhile, the study --depending on the findings of a questionnaire conducted with the stakeholders of the Basin-- also underlines that most of the stakeholders are unaware of the changes that the Lake faced, and they do not know about the existing plans of the Basin. This proves the need for stronger interinstitutional relationships and cooperation so as to take coherent actions. This is important for the management and planning in lake basins, but particularly in the ones which lie on more than one settlement&rsquo / s administrative boundaries like the Beysehir Lake. For the efficient and effective implementation of the ILBM in Turkey&rsquo / s lake basins, the related legislation should be revised accordingly.

In this thesis, changing regional development policies and effects of these in Turkey is discussed. Regional inequalities have been one of the important concerns of the Republic of Turkey. However, the restructuring of state and capitalism during 1980&amp / #8217 / s led to a change in regional policies and Turkish regional polices have surely begun to be affected from new policies. Yet, these new policies do not seem to offer much about promoting development in underdeveloped regions. This study aims to analyze the effects of new regional policies with their successes and failures in order to find out whether they can offer a suitable policy framework for promoting development in underdeveloped regions of Turkey. With this aim, changing policies in Southern Eastern Anatolia Project (GAP) will be discussed. Transformation of GAP, from a project of irrigation and energy based on previous allocative regional policies to a sustainable human development project will be examined. According to findings of the study, some remarks will be made about policy framework that should be taken as a basis in GAP.

In the literature there is a great emphasis on the theories of regional growth and development. In many theories, the role of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the economic growth and development of different regions has been widely discussed. Therefore, there is an emphasis upon the importance of the SMEs in the growth and development of the regional and national economies. The aim of this study is to clarify the role of local capabilities in the exporting SMEs and consequently define their role in regional growth and shed some light on the situation of the local capabilities in Ankara province. Therefore, in this study, firstly the theoretical framework of regional growth theories and the role of exporting SMEs in the regional economic growth are constructed. Secondly, the increasing role of different types of SMEs in the regional growth and their defining characteristics are discussed. Thirdly, brief remarks on SMEs in the Turkish economy and Ankara have been provided. Afterwards, the main hypothesis of this study tested through the results iv iv obtained from the survey that was done with SMEs in Ankara province and success factors of SMEs are drawn from the in-depth interviews. Finally, by making a general evaluation some policy implications have been drawn.