Bölgesel Kalkınma Hedefleri ile Yerel Kalkınma Stratejilerinin Uyumu: TR22 Bölgesi'nde Çanakkale LEADER Uygulamaları Örneği
Compatibility of Regional Development Goals with Local Development Strategies: The Case of Çanakkale LEADER Implementations in the TR22 Region

Summary/Abstract: Rural development paradigms are undergoing a significant transition, moving away from centralized planning models toward bottom-up approaches that prioritize the active participation of local actors. The LEADER approach, developed by the European Union (EU) and implemented in Türkiye under the IPARD Program, stands as the most tangible instrument of this transformation. This paper assesses the extent to which Local Development Strategies (LDS)—prepared via local dynamics during the IPARD II period, a time of institutionalization for LEADER in Türkiye—align with upper-scale regional plans. While the research universe encompasses the TR22 South Marmara Region (Balıkesir and Çanakkale), the sample is specifically restricted to Çanakkale, designated as a phase 1 province where the LEADER measure was first executed. Accordingly, a comparative analysis was conducted between the strategic priorities of the 2014-2023 TR22 Regional Plan and the action plans of the Ayvacık Assos Local Action Group (LAG) and the Gökçeada-Eceabat-Bozcaada LAG. Utilizing document analysis within a qualitative research framework, the study observes that local demands and regional planning objectives exhibit a thematic overlap rather than a strict causal relationship. The findings demonstrate a high degree of consistency between LAG strategies and the Regional Plan, particularly regarding alternative tourism, local branding, and the development of social capital.

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