Administrative divisions of Turkey explained

Turkey has a unitary structure in terms of administration and this aspect is one of the most important factors shaping the Turkish public administration. When three powers (executive, legislative and judiciary) are taken into account as the main functions of the state, local administrations have little power. Turkey is a highly centralized unitary system, and the provinces are subordinated to the centre. Local administrations were established to provide services in place and the government is represented by the governors and city governors. Besides the governors and the city governors, other senior public officials are also appointed by the central government rather than appointed by mayors or elected by constituents.^[1]

Within this unitary framework, Turkey is subdivided into 81 provinces for administrative purposes. Each province is divided into districts, for a total of 973 districts.^[2] Turkey is also subdivided into 7 regions and 21 subregions for geographic, demographic and economic purposes; this does not refer to an administrative division.

The largely centralized structure of decision-making in Ankara is often considered an impediment to good governance,^[3] and causes resentment in particular in ethnic minority regions.^{[4] [5]} Steps towards decentralization since 2004 have proved to be a highly controversial topic in Turkey.^{[6] [7]} Turkey is obligated under the European Charter of Local Self-Government to decentralize its administrative structure.^{[8] [9]} A decentralization program for Turkey is an ongoing discussion in the country's academics, politics and the broader public.^{[10] [11] [12] [13]}

Turkey is subdivided in a hierarchical manner:

• • • • • • Provinces Districts Belde (semi-rural)
    • Villages (rural)
    • Neighbourhoods (urban)

Provinces

Districts

See main article: List of districts in Turkey.

Towns

See main article: belde.

Villages

See main article: köy.

Neighbourhoods

See also

• Regions of Turkey
• Provinces of Turkey
• Districts of Turkey
• Villages of Turkey
• List of municipalities in Turkey
• List of largest cities and towns in Turkey
• Metropolitan centers in Turkey
• Anatolian Tigers
• List of twin towns and sister cities in Turkey
• ISO 3166-2 codes of Turkey
• FIPS region codes of Turkey (standard withdrawn in 2008)
• NUTS of Turkey

Notes and References

1. Web site: General Structure of Turkish Public Administration. justice.gov.tr/. Ministry of Justice. 14 August 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150321203401/http://www.justice.gov.tr/judicialsystem.pdf. 21 March 2015.
2. Web site: Turkey Districts. 9 August 2014.
3. Web site: Towards an Education Decentralization Strategy for Turkey: Guideposts from international experience. Alec Ian Gershberg. World Bank. March 2005. 2016-12-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20170114074133/http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTTURKEY/Resources/361616-1142415001082/Turkey_decentralization_strategy.pdf. 2017-01-14. dead.
4. Web site: Turkey's Kurdish Moment. Soner Cagaptay. The Washington Institute. 3 August 2015.
5. Web site: HDP arrests pose grave risks for Turkey's future. Stefano Sarsale. Global Risk Insights. 1 December 2016.
6. Web site: Decentralisation in Turkey. Ulaş BAYRAKTAR. Élise MASSICARD. Agence française de développement. July 2012.
7. Web site: 'Civic Participation' or 'Customer Satisfaction'? Waves of Centralization, Decentralization and Recentralization from the Ottoman Empire until Today. Charlotte Joppien. ResearchTurkey. 24 September 2014. 14 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171019205223/http://researchturkey.org/civic-participation-or-customer-satisfaction-waves-of-centralization-decentralization-and-recentralization-from-the-ottoman-empire-until-today/. 19 October 2017. dead. dmy-all.
8. Web site: The Turkish Constitution and the Kurdish Question. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 1 August 2011.
9. Web site: Local and regional democracy in Turkey. Council of Europe, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Monitoring Committee. 1 March 2011.
10. Web site: BDP's decentralization proposal debated in Turkey. Hurriyet Daily News. 3 October 2010.
11. Web site: The principle of decentralization in the new constitution. Hurriyet Daily News. 24 September 2010.
12. Web site: New Turkish gov't to focus on new reforms to solve age-old problems. Ahmet Davutoğlu. Ahmet Davutoğlu. Daily Sabah. 20 November 2015.
13. Web site: Decentralization for Peace in Turkey, Iraq & Syria. Aydın Selcen. Turkish Policy Quarterly. 7 March 2016.