ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the Turkish planning system and its institutional background from a historical perspective and describes key changes that have taken place in the last decade. It indicates conflicts and pitfalls within the planning system through reference to some current experiences in Turkey. The chapter presents the basic problems and challenges of the existing situation after briefly describing the current position of the planning system in Turkey, which has developed from 1920s. It examines the emerging actors and their influence on planning practices, with reference to strategic planning in Istanbul. The chapter analyzes new perspectives and challenges that may prove to be obstacles to the fostering of regional and urban development in near future based on concrete spatial planning practices in the metropolitan area of Istanbul and Thrace. It presents the socio-economic and legislative changes affecting spatial planning in Turkey based on short description of main historical periods. The chapter concludes with remarks regarding the planning system in Turkey.
