Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Türkiye ve Dünyada Sosyal Politika, Banu ÖZBUCAK ALBAR, Editör, Yaz Yayınları, Afyonkarahisar, ss.1-17, 2025
Social policy refers to the set of regulations and interventions implemented by the state and various societal institutions with the aim of enhancing the welfare of individuals within society, reducing social risks, and ensuring the establishment of social justice. An examination of its historical development reveals that social policy emerged in the aftermath of the Industrial Revolution, primarily to improve the working and living conditions of the working class, mitigate labour–capital conflicts, and maintain social stability. Over time, transformations in political, economic, and social spheres have broadened the scope of social policy; consequently, social policy has evolved from a field concerned solely with wage earners into a comprehensive structure aimed at improving the welfare of all social classes and groups and minimizing disparities in income and living standards.
When the historical development of social policy in Turkey is considered, it is appropriate to state that the process began during the Ottoman Empire. In particular, the Tanzimat and Islahat Edicts constitute critical turning points both for the modernization of the state and for the formation of Turkish social policy history. This study first addresses the conceptual foundations of social policy and explains its definition, objectives, and fundamental characteristics within a theoretical framework. Subsequently, the social policy–oriented provisions contained in the Tanzimat Edict are examined systematically, followed by a detailed assessment of the social policy provisions included in the Islahat Edict.