THE ANISEED HISTORY OF TÜRKİYE: SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DYNAMICS (1926-2004

Authors : Okan Ceylan, Suna Altan
Pages : 871-900
Doi:10.56597/kausbed.1719138
View : 118 | Download : 299
Publication Date : 2025-12-12
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :The socio-economic history of aniseed in Turkey in the 20th century indicates the development of small peasantry, agricultural policies and agro-industry. Therefore, this study aims to analyse aniseed production in Turkey from the mid-1920s to the early 2000s in the triangle of state, peasant and economy. At this point, the TEKEL (State Monopoly) Administration, which creates added value to aniseed through market opportunities and raki production, has an important role in the sustainability of aniseed cultivation. Since aniseed is mostly produced by small agricultural enterprises, it has been identified as a product where farmer organisation is weak and production planning is not carried out. Since this situation causes difficulties in the marketing of the aniseed produced, it has been a part of political debates in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. It is interesting to note that despite the technical advances in Turkish agriculture in the 20th century, anise production was labor intensive and remained primitive. In fact, despite the economic uncertainties caused by neoliberal agricultural policies after 1980, both the number of producers and anise production continued to increase. Despite these two contradictory situations, this study shows that TEKEL\\\'s demand for anise for raki production has ensured the sustainability of anise production in Turkey. In other words, TEKEL provided both sustainability in production, a market opportunity and value-added production for aniseed. In terms of methodology, this study approaches aniseed production from a more holistic perspective and touches upon both the daily lives of aniseed producers and political debates. The primary sources utilized in this study, such as the Presidential State Archive Documents, the minutes of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey and the national press, reflect the social, economic and political debates on anise production, while the Turkish Statistical Institute data show the changes in anise production by provinces over the years.
Keywords : Küçük Köylülük, Anason, Kamu Kurumları

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