Neoliberal transformation of the Turkish city through the Urban Transformation Act


Elicin Y.

HABITAT INTERNATIONAL, vol.41, pp.150-155, 2014 (SSCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 41
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.habitatint.2013.07.006
  • Journal Name: HABITAT INTERNATIONAL
  • Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.150-155
  • Galatasaray University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This article aims to focus on the urban public policy shaped by neoliberal policies and to analyze The Urban Transformation Act for the Areas under Disaster Risk in this context. With the help of policy analysis concepts and methods, the article tries to demonstrate that the political authority attempts to centralize urban politics, to eliminate mechanisms of participation in decision making and to impose an authoritarian and top-down decision-making style as the dominant mode of decision. The article concentrates on agenda-setting and argues that far from being a pluralistic process, it denies any opposition or criticism coming either from the opposition party or civil society. The source of initiative is the political authority which tries to legitimize urban transformation via an eventual earthquake risk. However, the implementation proves that urban transformation ended with an unjust rent transfer, displacement, social exclusion and thus gentrification. Despite this, the neoliberal development policies put into implementation during the last decades make clear the great importance that has been attached by the AMP government to the urban transformation process. AKP's main development strategy is based on creating attractive investment opportunities both for national and foreign capital. An authoritarian and undemocratic method of policy making accompanies these policies. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.