Transition from static boundaries to a dynamic and functional management approach

Türkiye’s Settlement Pattern and Population Dynamics (Article 16)

Aydın Tiryaki (2026)

Our examinations of Türkiye’s settlement pattern have shown that the current administrative structure is facing structural bottlenecks such as scale problems, identity confusion, and service mismatches. At the root of these problems lies a static understanding that defines settlements only according to population numbers and rigid administrative boundaries. The “Dynamic Settlement Model” we propose for the Türkiye of the future aims to reconfigure settlement units according to their functions, economic characters, and social fabrics rather than just their names (1).

The cornerstone of this new model is the definition of settlements with flexible categories such as “Rural Neighborhood” and “Urban Village.” To break the uniformity created by the metropolitan law, regardless of the administrative status of a settlement, it should be based on whether it is an agricultural production center or an urban attraction point. This approach will ensure that resources are directed to the right place and that each unit is managed with management regulations suitable for its own nature. For example, a Rural Neighborhood will be able to benefit from municipal services while simultaneously preserving its agricultural autonomy and the advantages of village-type settlement (2).

The second major transformation in the administrative architecture is the “Tiered Delegation of Authority.” To eliminate the asymmetry between district and provincial centers, “Special Status District” powers should be given to districts with massive populations; on the other hand, “Service Clusters” should be created for scattered settlements. In this model, management will take on a flexible network structure shaped upward by local requirements, rather than a structure imposed downward from a single center. The integration of digital management tools into this process will also fundamentally solve the representation problem by facilitating the participation of citizens in decision-making processes (3).

In conclusion, the revolution that needs to be made in Türkiye’s settlement architecture is to transform the management logic within those boundaries rather than changing the boundaries themselves. Our vision for the future is a settlement map of Türkiye where every settlement exists with its own identity, service is measured by efficiency rather than distances, and local democracy reaches the smallest unit. Implementing this transformation is not just an administrative reform, but also a necessity for the sustainability of social welfare (4).

Aydın Tiryaki Ankara, January 12, 2026

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All ideas, opinions, and suggestions in this article belong to the author. During the process of writing the text, the artificial intelligence Gemini was utilized for writing assistance and information compilation.

ANNEXES

Annex A: Key Components of the Dynamic Settlement Model

• Functional Classification: Determining status based on economic activity (agriculture, industry, tourism) instead of population.
• Flexible Budget Management: Providing financing according to the actual service load and attraction power of the settlement unit.
• Digital Participation: Voting on decisions at the neighborhood and village level through local digital platforms.

Annex B: Settlement Categories in the New Model

• Special Status District: Expanded jurisdiction for giant districts at the metropolitan scale.
• Urban Village: Urban service package for units that are urbanized but in village status.
• Rural Neighborhood: Protective and production-oriented management for agricultural areas in metropolitan cities.
• Service Cluster: Common infrastructure and mobile service network for scattered sub-village units.

REFERENCES

(1) Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Türkiye Spatial Strategy Plan Vision Documents. https://www.csb.gov.tr

(2) Tiryaki, A. (2026). From Village to Neighborhood: Just a Name Change? (Article 5 of the Series).

(3) Union of Municipalities of Türkiye (TBB), Local Governments of the Future and Smart Cities Report. https://www.tbb.gov.tr

(4) General Directorate of Development Agencies, National Strategy for Regional Development (BGUS) 2024-2028. https://www.ka.gov.tr