"Çeper" in karmaşıklığını bölgesel ve tarihsel değişim bakış açısı ile okumak: Datça örneği, Muğla

Urban and rural areas have traditionally been defined as separate from each other both spatially and socially. Therefore, their development policies have been different from each other as well. The problems caused by the separation between urban and rural areas are the most striking in urban fringes. This is due to their complex, heterogeneous, and dynamic structure. Another reason is that many multi-dimensional interactions take place in the fringe and many actors are involved. These areas, which for administrative, spatial, and social reasons can neither be defined as urban nor as rural are directly affected by the development pressure that cities put on them. Especially in a fringe with dominant natural and cultural-ecological values, there is often a conflict between the area's characteristics and the respective planning decisions. In this regard, the complexity theory can help with understanding a fringe's features and their functions. On this basis, the aim of this study is to examine the fringe of the Datça district which is located in the Datça-Bozburun. The fringe's heterogeneous, dynamic, and complex structure and its timeline are examined in terms of horizontal and vertical relations. In other words, this study provides an integrated reading of the area's socio-economic components and associates them with planning decisions. It does so by outlining the component's relationship to the hierarchical spatial structure and the historical change. The research was conducted on two scales, namely the territorial and settlement scales. A spatial analysis of the data was carried out using GIS applications. This spatial reading also proposes a method to understand the urban fringe in protected areas with its rich natural and cultural values. It furthermore helps with making decisions and policies that are compatible with the protected area's characteristics.