A Political Framework for Understanding Heritage Dynamics in Turkey (1950-1980)

The paper focuses on the actions of ‘the High Council for Immovable Historic Works and Monuments’ (HC) that was active from 1951 to 1983 as the sole decision maker in historic preservation for all historic structures and sites in Turkey. Through a research into HC archives, this research generates a historical and political framework for understanding the context that HC operated within. The research shows that expert knowledge, especially in the conservation of historic cities, has been a powerful instrument however the use of this instrument depended on the political context. HC could extend its authority in the 1950s operating under a conservative autocratic government. In the 1960s and 1970s, on the other hand, when there was a lack of central power and the society was dominated by political violence, chaos, and economic instability, HC could reinforce and exercise its power to raise the standards in historic preservation aligned with the international conservation movement.