The development policies for the East and Southeast Anatolia regions in Turkey: 1960-1980

Intensification of economic activities in West Anatolia until 1960?s gave rise to unequal development among regions. So as to decrease the disparity among regions, in equality among regions was under lined in development plans, and in that context development plans were put into action. In this research unequal development process among regions in accordance with capital?s spatial preferences is evaluated in a historical context and reflections of this so-called unequal development on Kurdish areas is analyzed. The economic intervention of state on to Kurdish areas, which is the least developed region of the country between 1960-1980, and policy towards resolving the under development is addressed. Moreover, government policy and programs towards the region between 1960-1980 and after wards through South Eastern Anatolia Project (GAP) is analyzed in historical perspective. Although there were policies emphasizing the development of under developed regions in state development plans, policies which were implemented were not able to preventunequal development among regions. Rather than regarding social justice and social improvement in Kurdish areas, the governments gave importance to growth focused on the expansion of capital in west part of the country. After 1980?s one can seethat GAP, which was supposed to trigger the development in Kurdish areas, was only limited with mining and energy sectors. The transition and usage of the seresources in so-called areas for the supply of industrial needs in the west in creased disequilibrium between Kurdish areas and West Regions. Further more, low investmentrates in irrigation fields and not in volvelment of local participators into GAP Project shaked confidence to project. It seems that GAP is not a Project that would restore disequilibrium among regions.