The dissertation that lies behind this book was supervised by Galip L. Yalman, who, besides being my mentor, has been a wonderful friend and comrade. His personal and academic support continues to this day. I am so lucky to have you in my life, Galip Hocam! Even though the book is based upon my Ph.D. dissertation (Çelik, 2019), the framework was further developed during my time in the Department of Politics, Department of Social Science, and the Global Labour Research Centre at York University, Canada, as a postdoctoral fellow and visiting professor between 2019 and 2022. I want to thank Terry Maley and Luann Good Gingrich for their support and assistance during very tough times of the pandemic in a different country. The book has been finalized in Istanbul, where I very recently settled. I want to thank my colleagues, Berkay Ayhan, Sibel Karadağ, Dilek Cindoğlu, Lerna K. Yanık, Mary Lou O’Neil, and Murat Güvenç, for making it easier for me to get used to working at a new institution. I feel fortunate to have the chance to work with you all.
I would like to thank Aylin Topal not only for encouraging me to submit a book proposal for the New Scholarship in Political Economy (nspe) series but also for her continuous academic and personal support. I also appreciate the assistance of the co-Editor of the nspe series, David Fasenfest, throughout the writing up of the manuscript.
My friends are always there for me in the ups and downs of my life. I want to express my gratitude to my sisters in soul, Ayça Berna Görmez, Ecehan Balta, Sultan Gürbey, Ayşe Pamuk, Görkem Akgöz, Ezgi Doğru, and Deniz Ay, as well as to Can Irmak Özinanır. I feel extremely lucky to have them in my life!
My special thanks go all my contacts in the Soma Coal Basin, who opened up their houses, became my friends and comrades. I am especially grateful to my comrades from the Social Rights Association for their friendship and support. I would like to express my gratitude to Ali Bülent Erdem for his instructive guidance throughout the fieldwork. I would like to give my utmost gratitude to my family for all their support. I am so lucky to have Pınar Çelik as my sister and best friend. My nephew, Uzay Ateş, is the source of joy in my life. My father always makes me feel comfortable through his endless support and love. Last but not least, this book is dedicated to my brilliant mother, Şerife Çelik. Thank you, annecim, for always believing in me and teaching me how to become a strong woman!