‘Urban Transformation’ as State-led Property Transfer: An Analysis of Two Cases of Urban Renewal in Istanbul

Tuna Kuyucu and Özlem Ünsal
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Tuna Kuyucu: Department of Sociology, Boğaziçi University,Sosyoloji Bölümü Güney Kampüsü PK. 2 Bebek/Istanbul 34342, Turkey, kuyucutu@hotmail.com
Özlem Ünsal: Department of Sociology, City University, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK, ozlemunsal@gmail.com

Urban Studies, 2010, vol. 47, issue 7, 1479-1499

Abstract: Since 2001, there has been a radical shift in the governance of urban land and housing markets in Turkey from a ‘populist’ to a ‘neo-liberal’ mode. Large ‘urban transformation projects’ (UTPs) are the main mechanisms through which a neo-liberal system is instituted in incompletely commodified urban areas. By analysing two UTPs implemented in an informal housing zone and an inner-city slum in Istanbul, the paper discusses the motivations behind, the socioeconomic consequences of and grassroots resistance movements to the new urban regime. The analysis shows that the UTPs predominantly aim at physical and demographic upgrading of their respective areas rather than improving the living conditions of existing inhabitants, thus instigating a process of property transfer and displacement. It also demonstrates that the property/ tenure structure of an area plays the most important role in determining the form and effectiveness of grassroots movements against the UTPs.

Date: 2010
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:47:y:2010:i:7:p:1479-1499

DOI: 10.1177/0042098009353629

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