"Modernist facade"?
You sound like you know more about Turkish politics and history than you let on!
After finishing the book, I think it was essential it to be this almost God forsaken place for them to be cut off so easily from the "real world".
I really enjoyed the book; interestingly the beginning and end more than the middle, which is just the opposite for me usually. It has the same feel of a Marquez book... Almost challenging the reality. All characters are compelling even though they are not fully developed or well-rounded.