The impact of globalization on agricultural raw material exports: The case of Turkey

The phenomenon of globalisation, the impact of which has been strongly felt since the 1980s, has affected human life primarily economically, sociologically and ecologically. With the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, this process accelerated and there is no country that is not affected by the globalisation process. Although the effect of globalisation is mostly felt in the industrial sector, it also has indirect and direct effects on the agricultural sector and its trade. As a matter of fact, before and after the Industrial Revolution, developed countries traded valuable agricultural products such as cocoa, spices and sugar as well as precious metals. In Turkey, although liberal policies entered Turkish politics during the DP government years, they were most active in the 1980s, that is, with the 24 January Decisions, and neoliberal policies were implemented in order to harmonise the Turkish economy with the global liberal economy. In this period, citizens were affected by neoliberal policies in economic, social and many other aspects. This is also the period when Turkey was clearly affected by globalisation. Industry, agriculture and service sectors were able to move freely and as a result, Turkey opened up to the foreign market completely. International agreements have shaped trade and paved the way for the formation of different policies. In this thesis, the effects of globalisation on the agricultural sector, especially the effects of globalisation on agricultural raw material exports are examined. Firstly, the concept of globalisation and then the effects of globalisation on the agricultural sector are discussed. After discussing the liberal and agricultural transformation in Turkey, literature studies on the impact of globalisation on the agricultural sector and the impact of other factors on the agricultural sector are included. ARDL bounds test analysis is used to examine the relationship between different types of globalisation in Turkey and Turkey's agricultural raw material trade. In the last part of the thesis, the relationship between different types of globalisation and Turkey's exports of agricultural raw materials is examined using ARDL bounds test analysis.