Work culture, entrepreneurship and new modes of production: A research on Antalya small industrial tradesmen

Tradesmen, who have a very important function in the country's economic and social structure in Türkiye, are economic actors that remain in the background because they are not examined comprehensively. A closer look at the short-lived nature of these enterprises, which generally carry micro and small business characteristics, indicates that these economic actors have some problems adapting to today's rapidly changing economic structure. This observation makes it necessary to describe the needs and problems of tradesmen and determine their strengths in the context of economic and social outputs. This study aimed to determine the cultural, economic, and social capital of tradesmen in shaping their economic activities, enabling them to be integrated into the existing economic structure or cause them to be excluded. From this viewpoint, the sources of individuals' economic activity and their ways of struggling in the economic field are investigated in the context of the structure and agent relationship, based on Bourdieu's habitus approach within the scope of the theoretical framework. In addition to this, considering the social networks, relationships, and connections associated with entrepreneurship, the concept of social capital and related discussions were imposed. The thesis study followed a mixed research method and was carried out through a comprehensive process in which quantitative and qualitative data were collected, analyzed, and interpreted simultaneously. This study examined Antalya's small industrial tradesmen's work cultures, economic relations, and entrepreneurial tendencies in depth. Their social patterns were tried to be understood in their historical, cultural, and spatial contexts. The findings indicate that running ethical and honest businesses is the basis for tradesmen's activities. The sources of cultural and historical values are the base of this tendency. In addition to this, social relations and connections have a significant impact on the economic gains of tradesmen. However, the findings indicate that a lack of cultural, institutional, and individual resources needed to survive in the unstable economic atmosphere of the market economy affects the tendency of tradesmen to seek protective, fast, easy, and trade-oriented gains. From this viewpoint, the findings indicate that entrepreneurial tendencies, including long-term and production-oriented investments, high technology and technical equipment use, and adaptation to new forms of production and advertising, could not be manifested in the economic mentalities of tradesmen.