Early Republican Period (1923-1940) Industrialization and Modernization Projects: Socio-Economic and Socio-Spatial Impacts of Sugar Factories

This study aims to examine the socio-economic and socio-spatial impacts of the sugar factories established in the early Republican period of Turkey (1923-1940). The focus of the study is on the site selection decisions of these factories, their spatial organization and their interactions with the locality. Within the scope of the study, the relevant literature as well as newspaper archives of the period were scanned and analyzed within the framework of the purpose of the researchThe study demonstrates the significant contributions of sugar factories to local economies, employment, and agricultural production. It highlights their crucial role in spreading modern lifestyles and accelerating rural-urban migration. The construction of modern housing, schools, hospitals, and social facilities around the factories improved workers' living conditions and fostered social cohesion. The spatial organization of the factories aimed to enhance productivity and promote modern lifestyles. The social infrastructure investments incorporated into the planning and design of these factories reflect the modernization goals of early Republican Turkey. This study concludes that these factories played a significant role in Turkey's economic development and societal transformation.