A questionable Robin Hood story: branded housing projects and public-led commodification of urban space

Serin, B. (2016) A questionable Robin Hood story: branded housing projects and public-led commodification of urban space. Research Turkey, 5(7), pp. 6-23.

Abstract

Inequalities in urban space have been on the rise since the 1970s with global neoliberal restructuring processes. This rise in inequality fosters segregation in urban space which has become observable through gated enclaves. Housing enclaves became a way of urban space production in many countries. Aligning with this global trend, since the early 2000s, following the 2001 economic crisis, a new version of housing enclaves has been emerging in Turkey- branded housing projects. The projects are produced under certain brands as urban spatial commodities by private developers or public private partnerships, and widely use various types of advertising like any other commodity on the market. The role of state institutions in the production of this commodified and marketed form of housing provision is illustrative of the practices of the neoliberal state. This article[1] discusses branded housing projects in relation to the role of the developing neoliberal state in Turkey, firstly by giving an overview of the neoliberal urbanisation processes which Turkey has been going through; secondly by discussing the main characteristics of the projects; and thirdly by focusing on the role of public institutions in the production of such places, and criticizing the role of revenue-sharing model. The article thus questions the role of the neoliberal state in contemporary commodification of urban space in Turkey.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Serin, Dr Bilge
• Authors: Serin, B.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Research Turkey
• Publisher: Centre For Policy and Research on Turkey
• ISSN: 2052-7004
• ISSN (Online): 2052-7004