A review on the relationship between social development and social cooperatives in Turkey

Cooperatives, defined as enterprises formed by individuals who voluntarily come together to meet common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise, have in recent years become key players in economic and social development, with a particular focus on social cooperatives. In addition to traditional cooperatives, social cooperatives are also defined as non-profit organizations that address social issues, such as providing services in the public interest through employment and income opportunities, and fostering the inclusion of disadvantaged individuals, such as the disabled, long-term unemployed, ex-prisoners, and addicts. This thesis emphasizes the importance and growing role of social cooperatives in development and examines examples of cooperatives in Turkey working in key areas such as education, rural development, and health, with a specific focus on socially innovative development.