Social Transformations Witnessed by Türkiye Between 1970 And 1980

Abstract

During the 1970s, Turkey experienced a severe economic crisis that marked a turning point in its economic and political development. By 1977, the balance of payments deficit had reached unprecedented levels, with external debt exceeding $11 billion, nearly half of which was short-term debt. The economic deterioration resulted in an escalation in labor protests and strikes, along with an escalation in political violence between left-wing and right-wing groups. The 1970s marked a period of acute political and social tensions, directly reflected in the emergence of social movements, most notably student and trade union movements. Turkey entered a period of sharp political polarization between the right and left, amid growing economic turmoil, widespread unemployment, and high inflation. Numerous student organizations, such as the University Students' Association (Üniversite Öğrencileri Derneği) and left-wing alliances within universities, were formed during this period. The growing influence of these movements led to violent reactions from the state and right-wing groups, with the country witnessing a wave of political assassinations, armed clashes, and widespread arrests. The student and union movements of the 1970s constituted one of the most prominent forms of political and social mobilization in modern Turkey. Despite being subjected to repression, they established a continuing tradition of struggle and contributed to the development of a critical political consciousness that continues to influence subsequent social movements. This decade is considered one of the most dynamic periods in the history of Turkish civil society, as student activism and workers' consciousness collided in the face of state authoritarianism and emerging neoliberalism.