In pursuit of happiness: motivations for urban to rural migration in Turkey

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing global trend in which people seek to establish a simpler, slower, and more sustainable lifestyle away from the pressures of city life. This research analyses globally shared social, political, and planetary concerns, with a specific focus on the urban to rural migration phenomenon in Turkey. The project is based on participatory field research over a 12-month period with individuals who have made life decisions to quit their middle-class jobs to settle in small towns and villages in the West and South-West coastal parts of Turkey to engage in natural and ecological farming. Motivated by the pursuit of a meaningful life in the midst of the happiness and wellness industry intensified by social media, this study examines the key motivations behind migration to rural Turkey. It argues that although these motivations may seem personal, they are entangled with national, local, and global problems that push individuals to migrate to rural areas.