ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the socio-economic development and changing networks in relation to the problem of leadership and emerging dependency relations in a village in Western Turkey. One of the most important aspects of old aga patronage was its provision of security as part of a built-in system. Rural communities in Turkey, particularly in western Anatolia have long ceased to be closed, self sufficient communities. The traditional leadership was very clearly delineated by the Aga's position in the village and elder members' authority in the family. The village women of her age group cover their head with scarves and many of them wear baggy pantaloons. A. Bey's family who were involved with the political life of the country from the beginning took an active part in politics after 1973 and left the village in 1974 for national political activities. Literacy and the primary school started with painstaking efforts in Taskopru.
