ABSTRACT
Zeynep Asligul Gocmen

Rapid urbanization is a phenomenon that most developing countries are experiencing. There are many studies that show the characteristics of urbanization in developing countries and the differences between those and the developed ones. Developing countries generally experience the early stages of the urbanization transition, high increases in the share of the urban population, growth of large metropolises and urban primacy, deficiency in the urban housing, infrastructure, and employment, and problems with urbanization and regional development issues. However, the differences among developing and developed nations are not very apparent in some cases.

This research investigates the urbanization transition and the factors shaping the urban pattern in a developing country, Turkey. It also intends to suggest the consequences on Turkey’s urbanization transition in the case that it joins the European Union (EU). Therefore, it also examines the transition in EU, although in less detail than Turkey.

The study found out that there are vast differences in the urbanization transition and other indicators between Turkey and most members of the European Union in various aspects. The findings of the simple analysis on the European Union also suggest that there is no evidence of a significant relation in the urbanization transition and joining EU.

An area for further research is the effect of globalization in investments in larger cities both in developing and developed countries. This is a key in suggesting the future shape of urban Turkey in the case it joins EU. Furthermore, the study suggests that national policies should concentrate more on the betterment of the smaller size cities in Turkey to mitigate migration patterns and the negative impacts of over-crowdendness in the larger metropolises.