Classes and Status Groups in Times of Great Transformation: Reading Agrarian Change in Çukurova through the Lens of Yaşar Kemal

Abstract

This study investigates the changing positions of social classes and status groups during the capitalist transformationof agriculture in Turkish Çukurova region throughout the last century from the perspective of Yaşar Kemal’s literaryworks. The study begins with a methodological discussion on the use of literary works in historical and sociologicalstudies. It stresses three points regarding the agrarian change in Çukurova. Firstly, the resistance of lower classes tothe capitalist agrarian transformation had a wide scope spanning from the Luddite-type machine-breaking to landand labor struggles. Secondly, proletarianized villagers viewed wage work as a temporary rather than a permanentcondition, which would help them accumulate funds and engage with small-scale farming. Finally, transformationsof classes and status groups were closely related. While the previous generations of landlords remained loyal to precapitalist social norms, failed to adapt to capitalist transformation and thereby declined, new generations started torise, embracing profit maximization as the main goal.

Keywords

• class
• status group
• agrarian change
• Çukurova
• Turkish literature
• Yaşar Kemal

Files

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References

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Cite this publication

@article{gurel2018classes,
  author = {G{\"u}rel, Burak},
  title = {{Classes and Status Groups in Times of Great Transformation: Reading Agrarian Change in {\c{C}}ukurova through the Lens of Ya{\c{s}}ar Kemal}},
  journal = {Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Letters},
  volume = {36},
  number = {2},
  pages = {209--220},
  publisher = {Hacettepe {\"U}niversitesi},
  year = {2018},
  month = {6},
  issn = {1301-5737},
  doi = {10.32600/huefd.433296},
  url = {https://hacettepe.hbtech.com.tr/en/publication/classes-and-status-groups-in-times-of-great-transformation-reading-agrarian-change-in-cukurova-through-the-lens-of},
  language = {en},
  keywords = {class, status group, agrarian change, {\c{C}}ukurova, Turkish literature, Ya{\c{s}}ar Kemal},
  abstract = {This study investigates the changing positions of social classes and status groups during the capitalist transformationof agriculture in Turkish {\c{C}}ukurova region throughout the last century from the perspective of Ya{\c{s}}ar Kemal's literaryworks. The study begins with a methodological discussion on the use of literary works in historical and sociologicalstudies. It stresses three points regarding the agrarian change in {\c{C}}ukurova. Firstly, the resistance of lower classes tothe capitalist agrarian transformation had a wide scope spanning from the Luddite-type machine-breaking to landand labor struggles. Secondly, proletarianized villagers viewed wage work as a temporary rather than a permanentcondition, which would help them accumulate funds and engage with small-scale farming. Finally, transformationsof classes and status groups were closely related. While the previous generations of landlords remained loyal to precapitalist social norms, failed to adapt to capitalist transformation and thereby declined, new generations started torise, embracing profit maximization as the main goal.},
  affiliation = {Ko{\c{c}} {\"U}niversitesi}
}

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Gürel, Burak
TI  - Classes and Status Groups in Times of Great Transformation: Reading Agrarian Change in Çukurova through the Lens of Yaşar Kemal
T2  - Hacettepe University Journal of the Faculty of Letters
VL  - 36
IS  - 2
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/06/12/
SP  - 209
EP  - 220
PB  - Hacettepe Üniversitesi
SN  - 1301-5737
DO  - 10.32600/huefd.433296
UR  - https://hacettepe.hbtech.com.tr/en/publication/classes-and-status-groups-in-times-of-great-transformation-reading-agrarian-change-in-cukurova-through-the-lens-of
AB  - This study investigates the changing positions of social classes and status groups during the capitalist transformationof agriculture in Turkish Çukurova region throughout the last century from the perspective of Yaşar Kemal’s literaryworks. The study begins with a methodological discussion on the use of literary works in historical and sociologicalstudies. It stresses three points regarding the agrarian change in Çukurova. Firstly, the resistance of lower classes tothe capitalist agrarian transformation had a wide scope spanning from the Luddite-type machine-breaking to landand labor struggles. Secondly, proletarianized villagers viewed wage work as a temporary rather than a permanentcondition, which would help them accumulate funds and engage with small-scale farming. Finally, transformationsof classes and status groups were closely related. While the previous generations of landlords remained loyal to precapitalist social norms, failed to adapt to capitalist transformation and thereby declined, new generations started torise, embracing profit maximization as the main goal.
KW  - class
KW  - status group
KW  - agrarian change
KW  - Çukurova
KW  - Turkish literature
KW  - Yaşar Kemal
LA  - en
AD  - Koç Üniversitesi
ER  -