The effects of economic poliiticies (1950-1960) on social life

Turkey enters into a significant transformation since 1945. Multiparty life is passed, it is got closer to America, and bu signification foreign aid, more liberal economic policies are started. During the Democratic Party, which took power in the general elections held in 1950, these liberalization tendencies continued increasingly. Along with economic and political liberalization, which are the fundamental pivots of modernization, important transformations also take place in the social area. With the liberalization of imports, new products coming from the West fill the markets, abstinent and saver conception of consumption is beginning to give way to the spectacular and luxurious consumption. The basic problematic of the thesis is; to present the economic transformation which occurred in Democratic Party's term; and its the effects upon ordinary people have in their everyday lives, not in terms of numerical and bureaucratic changes in institutions and state statistics. The signification of social transformation presents an important information about the conditions and the purchasing power of the society to reach the consumption objects they consume. In this context, one of the points that the thesis focuses on is consumption and consumption culture rather than production and production relations. The issue has been worked in Istanbul especially, because it is one of the cities most affected by the changes by Menderes himself. The thesis presents the changes of urban and rural structure, population movements, housing, transportation, entertainment and eating culture, leisure activities with economic and political liberalization in Istanbul.