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The urban post-growth agenda critiques growth-driven urban planning by emphasizing ecological limits, social equity, and sustainable spatial organization (Schmid, 2022). It advocates transitioning away from economic growth dependency to sustainable governance. Globally, urbanization fosters economic activity but exacerbates environmental degradation and inequality. In Turkey, where the "urban growth machine" dominates planning, this shift requires a paradigm change (Savini, 2021).
Post-growth frameworks reject technological fixes that fail to decouple growth from environmental harm (Hickel and Kallis, 2019). They instead focus on reducing consumption and promoting localized economies prioritizing social well-being (Avar and Özcan, 2024). Turkey’s planning, however, remains growth-centric traditionally, favoring new urban developments over revitalizing inner-city areas, aligning with market interests at the expense of sustainability and equity (Xue, 2022). This approach, compounded by car-centric planning, significantly impacts urban form and sustainability (Senbil and Yetişkul, 2020).
Urban planning in Turkey reflects market-driven policies emphasizing rapid economic expansion over sustainability. Historically, urban projects have symbolized modernization but often worsened environmental and socio-economic disparities (Sarı, Özdemir, and Uzun, 2019). These dynamics, including fragmented governance and reliance on construction industries, hinder alignment with post-growth principles.
The rise in private car ownership, fueled by increasing incomes, reduced automobile costs, and government support, exemplifies the challenges facing post-growth urban agendas. Cars are symbols of modernity in Turkey but have long been fueling urban sprawl, increased emissions, and perpetuated socio-spatial inequality (Senbil and Yetişkul, 2020). Infrastructure investments tend to favor cars over public transit, leaving non-car owners marginalized and limiting access to urban opportunities. Even climate-friendly vehicles like electric cars sustain car dependency, promoting sprawling development while posing ecological challenges during production and disposal (Blewitt and Cunningham, 2014; Savini, 2021).
Public support for growth remains high in Turkey, where economic expansion is closely tied to perceptions of national progress. This cultural orientation presents a major obstacle to the implementation of post-growth policies, which often face significant political resistance (Schmid, 2022). Furthermore, institutional frameworks favor market-oriented practices, with the construction and real estate sectors acting as critical drivers of Turkey’s economy. Shifting from these growth-dependent models poses both political and economic challenges (Savini et al., 2022).
Opportunities for integrating post-growth principles into Turkey’s urban planning practices do exist. Revitalizing inner-city areas, which have often been neglected, can reduce the need for sprawl while addressing socio-spatial inequalities. Compact, mixed-use developments can encourage more efficient land use while prioritizing people over cars. Enhancing public transportation, cycling infrastructure, and pedestrian-friendly initiatives are key strategies for fostering sustainable mobility and equitable access to urban resources (Avar and Özcan, 2024). Decentralized governance models can empower local communities to address urban challenges innovatively and collaboratively (Savini et al., 2022).
Achieving the post-growth vision also requires redefining metrics of success beyond GDP to include measures of social well-being and ecological health (Hickel and Kallis, 2019). Land-use policies should prioritize ecological sustainability, enhancing biodiversity and minimizing degradation (Blewitt and Cunningham, 2014). Addressing cultural attitudes that promote car dependency and fostering sustainable lifestyles are essential steps in this transformation. Additionally, collaboration across government, academia, civil society, and the private sector will be crucial to addressing the multifaceted challenges of urban growth (Savini, 2021).
The tension between Turkey’s growth-focused urban planning and post-growth principles underscores the complexity of achieving sustainable urban futures. While obstacles like car-centric and growth-driven planning remain significant, adopting equitable and ecological pathways is critical (Schmid, 2022). By embracing finite development, decentralized governance, and habitability-focused urban design, Turkey can transition toward a sustainable urban future. This transformation is not merely technical but deeply cultural and political, requiring visionary leadership and collective action to challenge entrenched paradigms.
References
Avar, A. and Özcan, Y., 2024. Rethinking planning and nature conservation through degrowth/post-growth debates. Futures, 161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2024.103416.
Blewitt, J. and Cunningham, R., 2014. The Post-Growth Project: How the End of Economic Growth Could Bring a Fairer and Happier Society. London: Green House Publishing.
Hickel, J. and Kallis, G., 2019. Is Green Growth Possible? New Political Economy, 25(4), pp.469-486. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563467.2019.1598964.
Sarı, Ö.B., Özdemir, S.S. and Uzun, N., 2019. Urban and Regional Planning in Turkey. Cham: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05773-2.
Savini, F., 2021. Towards an urban degrowth: Habitability, finity and polycentric autonomism. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 53(5), pp.1076-1095. https://doi.org/10.1177/0308518X20981391.
Savini, F., Ferreira, A. and von Schönfeld, K.C., 2022. Post-Growth Planning: Cities Beyond the Market Economy. New York: Routledge.
Schmid, B., 2022. What about the city? Towards an urban post-growth research agenda. Sustainability, 14(19), p.11926. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141911926.
Senbil, M. and Yetişkul, E., 2020. Türkiye’de Son Dönem Otomobilleşme: 2007-2018 Arası İller Bazında Analizler. Kent Araştırmaları Dergisi (Journal of Urban Studies), 11(29), pp.372-404. https://doi.org/10.31198/idealkent.712272.
Xue, J., 2022. Urban planning and degrowth: A missing dialogue. Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability, 27(4), pp.404-422. https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2020.1867840.
| Keywords | Urban post-growth; sustainable urban planning; car-centric development; urbanization in Turkey |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | No |
