Comparison of the 1858 Land Code and the 1929 Land Code and their effects on the agricultural sector

This study examines the Land Distribution Law for Farmers (Çiftçiyi Topraklandırma Kanunu) enacted in 1945, a pivotal moment in Turkey's agrarian reform efforts, as well as the legislative developments and changes that occurred until 1973. The 1945 law was introduced to support agricultural development—a fundamental goal of the early Republic—and to promote social justice by integrating landless peasants into the production process through land ownership. The research evaluates the implementation scope of the law, the political, social, and economic challenges it faced, and analyzes the supplementary and regulatory legislation passed between 1945 and 1973. It also explores the impact of the law on land ownership structures, its influence on agricultural production, and the class-based consequences of land distribution policies, drawing on historical documents and official records. Additionally, the study situates the reform process within the broader context of the period's political dynamics, including the resistance of large landowners, the role of political actors, and the expectations of rural communities. The findings indicate that the law, although enacted with high hopes, failed to achieve its intended outcomes. The main reasons include implementation deficiencies, lack of political will, and conflicts of interest among social classes. Legislative interventions made until 1973 generally aimed to preserve the status quo rather than deepen the reform. Accordingly, this study offers a historical analysis of why agrarian reform efforts in Turkey did not lead to a transformative change in rural structures.