Speaker
Description
In urban contexts dominated by top-down governance, social entrepreneurship emerges as a key force in driving sustainable urban regeneration. It fosters grassroots agency and adaptive governance mechanisms. While state-led, redevelopment prioritizes economic
imperatives, local actors creatively navigate institutional constraints to make spaces for participation. The case of Sarıyer Derbent urban transformation project, Istanbul, illustrates how community-driven self-organization can transform urban governance through entrepreneurial strategies that challenge exclusionary policies.
One major outcome is the institutionalization of self-organization, where informal grassroots mobilization evolves into structured advocacy networks. In Derbent, neighbourhood cooperatives and associations have navigated legal frameworks, engaged in policy negotiations, and negotiated through entrepreneurial tactics to influence regeneration processes. These initiatives have disrupted state-driven urban renewal by re- politicizing governance structures. It demonstrates that local voices play an active role in decision-making.
Another key outcome is the emergence of adaptive governance mechanisms, where social entrepreneurs mimic the strategies of policymakers-in particular the state- and developers in some cases as in Fikirtepe to secure their rights. By utilizing digital platforms, legal tools, and strategic partnerships, Derbent residents transforms governance from an exclusionary model into a more responsive system. Their success demonstrates that social entrepreneurship is not just about economic innovation but also about reclaiming agency, reshaping governance, and ensuring urban regeneration serves broader social and environmental goals.
