Speaker
Description
Since the 2000s, urban transformation in Istanbul has become a critical component of Turkey’s neoliberal economic program. As argued by Kuyucu and Ünsal (2010), the real estate sector has emerged as a primary driver of economic growth, fundamentally altering Istanbul’s urban fabric. The central government’s approach to urban transformation has utilized the discourse of “disaster risk” (Türkün, 2014) to legitimize high profit-driven projects. While mega projects aim to position Istanbul as a global city, urban renewal initiatives have predominantly targeted low-income neighborhoods. As documented by Karaman (2013), these interventions often resulted in displacement and gentrification rather than addressing genuine disaster risks. Most of these projects were developed by the central state, implemented as public-private partnerships that prioritize property-based interests over citizen rights, marginalizing local governments, civil society, and professional organizations from decision-making processes (Erdi-Lelandais, 2014).
The role of urban planning in this context has been multifaceted and complex. On one hand, there is central government planning, and on the other, municipal planning. Additionally, there have been advocative planning initiatives aimed at creating an interface between planning institutions of the authorities and the urban movements.
This presentation will focus on the relationship between those state-led developments, urban planning, citizen rights and urban conflicts from an activist-planner's perspective. It will provide an overview of the evolution of this relationship in Istanbul, examine examples of urban conflicts in the city, and discuss the dynamics behind the ebbs and flows of urban movements and struggles. Finally, it will present lessons learned from this process and suggestions for how planning can better accommodate urban conflicts. It is essential to remember that planning is both a political activity and a decision-making mechanism in specific places and times.
This analysis offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between state-led developments, urban planning, citizen rights and urban conflicts in one of the world’s most rapidly transforming cities.
References
References:
Erdi-Lelandais, G. (2014). Space and Identity in Resistance against Neoliberal Urban Planning in Turkey
Karaman, O. (2013). Urban Neoliberalism with Islamic Characteristics
Kuyucu, T., & Ünsal, Ö. (2010). ‘Urban Transformation’ as State-led Property Transfer: An Analysis of Two Cases of Urban Renewal in Istanbul
Türkün, A. (2014). Urban Regeneration and Hegemonic Power Relationships
| Keywords | state-led urban development, urban conflicts, citizen rights, urban planning, İstanbul |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
