Intergenerational transfer of habitus and forms of capital in Turkey's Çukurova Region

This doctoral dissertation examines the social, cultural, and economic dynamics that enable intergenerational continuity in large family farms in Çukurova, one of Turkey's most fertile agricultural regions. Grounded in Pierre Bourdieu's concepts of habitus and capital (economic, social, cultural, and symbolic), the study shows that despite rising costs, market fluctuations, climate change, youth disengagement from farming, and economic uncertainty, the persistence of these farms cannot be explained solely by economic factors. It explores how family farming is reproduced beyond economic rationality through social and cultural mechanisms. In-depth interviews with 25 families across two generations reveal that agricultural life is shaped not only by economics but also by social roles, value transmission, belonging, and struggles for recognition. The research analyzes the intergenerational transformation of habitus, the transmission of capital forms, shifts in economic strategies, meanings attributed to land, and the construction of the "good farmer" identity. Findings indicate that younger generations view farming not merely as a necessity but as a family duty, local prestige, ethical commitment, and way of life. Thus, family farming emerges as a multidimensional social practice transmitted across generations rather than a purely production-based activity.