Local/regional development in TRA2 Region: Analysis of current situation, problems and suggestions for solution

The concept of development does not only refer to economic growth but also to increase the living standards of an individual or a society in different social spheres. The most appropriate or practical way of understanding the development level of a country is to scrutinize the level of income of the citizens, the regime of that particular country and to evaluate the quality of life. Within the period, from post Second World War era to 1980s, the notion of regional development was taken as rupturing from the world economy and being member of a single regional group. This very process was defined as "Old Regionalism." Since the late 1980s, along with the understanding of integration with the world economy and being a member of more than one group, the idea that the development ought to orginate in local areas, has gained significance. At the present time, this very perspective has been practiced as "New Regionalism" paradigm. In developed countries, the regional development has been a driving force for the national development. In this very context, as in Capitalist Societies, it is important that development ought to take its source from the local in both developing or under-developed countries. The traditional development policies are focused on the idea that development depends on the accumulation of physical capital. On the other hand, New Development Policies prove that development depends not only on the accumulation of physical capital but also on the accumulation of humane capital. It is also asserted that in the process of defining the notion of social capital, the local development is an institutional problem. The global economic pattern which is based upon the principle of competition has increased local fragilities. The recent economic crisis and the problems which they created, have affected all of the local economies. The increase in the rate of unemployment, the corruption in the distribution of income creates inequalities. The TRA2 Region (Ağrı, Ardahan, Iğdır, Kars) which is analyzed in this study, perfectly exemplifies the disadvantages mentioned above when it is evaluated in terms of its developmental level. For this very reason, it is necessary to make a comphrensive study revealing the disadventages that are handled and bottlenecks and the potentials of the region. The basis of this study, which aims local development and to improve the industry of the region which will depend on agriculture, will be The Union of Cooperative Village Producers. Key words:Regional Development, Old Regionalism, New Regionalism, TRA2 Region, The Union of Cooperative Village Producers.