Post Disaster Resilience: the Reconstruction of Hatay: Analysis of the Government Policies and the Turkish Academic Influence

Facing the most significant difficulty in years, a devastating earthquake swept over Hatay on the 6th of February in 2023, once a city with a particular history, and destroyed the entire region and its surroundings. This catastrophic episode marked the beginning of a path to rebuilding and revitalization of the region. In this research thesis, the process of the reconstruction efforts of Hatay after the earthquake will be analyzed from an urban perspective. The importance of the city’s history, and how it was affected by the earthquake will be examined, as well as Turkey’s subsequent actions and governmental policies, both the obstacles and prospects associated with building a stronger and more resilient Hatay. The aim of the paper is to better understand the constraints and opportunities in the post-earthquake government approach in the case of Turkey as well as the impact and influence of the Turkish academia. In order to achieve this, it analyses the governmental approach when it comes to Hatay’s reconstruction after the 2023 Earthquake focusing particularly on the regulations and institutional dialogue. Finally, the paper examines the domestic and international influence Turkish academia has when it comes to earthquake-related disasters and highlights deficiencies in long-term recovery planning in Turkey. The introduction grants information on Hatay and why these parameters influence the disaster-decision making and why it was Hatay that was approached as a potential point of reconstruction in Turkey; Chapter 2 explains the parameters the decision-makers ought to consider; Section 3 reports the findings of how the collective memory is founded by the history of earthquakes in the region. Chapter 4 assesses the February 2023 earthquake with its consequences and aftermath. Chapter 5 outlines the governmental response with various actors and the institutional dialogues, and the key points to consider such as Building Amnesty. Finally Chapter 6 analyses the effect of Turkish academia and what Turkish academics and institutions should do to increase their outreach and capability. This thesis examines how the process of recovering Hatay can provide knowledge and direction for other cities that experience these same hardships with the help of this research. By emphasizing the significance of community engagement, government policies, and the role of academia in post-disaster planning, I aim to contribute to the greater conversation surrounding post-disaster recovery and urban resilience. If executed correctly, Hatay could be a remarkable example of a 21st-century post-disaster reconstructed city.