ADM564 SEMINAR IN TURKISH LABOUR HISTORY
| Course Code: | 3100564 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Political Science and Public Adm. |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. AYLİN TOPAL |
| Offered Semester: | Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
This course is a graduate seminar in Turkish labor history. It aims to document the transformation of labor relations from Ottoman guilds to Turkey's flexibilized workforce of post-1980. The course analyzes how state policies reconfigured class structures at different eras and how struggles for expansion of labor rights have or have not taken place, looking finally at the condition of the platform labor.
Course Content
This course analyzes the demographic, economic social, legal and institutional framework of industrial relations in Turkey from an internationally comparative perspective.
Course Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
Map the shifting legal frameworks governing labour (e.g., 1936 Labour Law, post-1980 restrictions).
Explain how ethnicity (Kurdish workers), religion (Alevi labour networks), and gender (women’s factory labour) intersect with class.
Assess the impacts of globalization (EU accession debates, export-processing zones).
Connect labour movements to broader struggles (urban rights, environmental justice).
Debate theoretical concepts (e.g., “precariat” in Turkey’s gig economy).
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | The ability to interpret and assess the ways in which power is generated and used socially, institutionally, economically and culturally at the local, national and international levels. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | The ability to conduct interdisciplinary studies and research when assessing the social phenomena in the field of Political Science and Public Administration. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | To attain a sound formation regarding the basic topics, like state-society relations, history of political thought, organisational theory, Turkish politics and comparative politics, in the field of Political Science and Public Administration. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | The ability to use the classical and new approaches in social sciences comprehensively and critically. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | To acquire the methodological knowledge and scientific skills which would enhance the capacity to conduct scientific research and produce publications including a M.S. thesis. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | The ability to evaluate the different dimensions of the problems in the policy areas which are studied through the use of different theoretical perspectives and to develop strategies on this basis. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | To uphold ethical principles in science, academy and life. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | To approach the issues by an independent, critical and inventive cognitive orientation, which could also support the professional career development. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution