UNIVERSITY of CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Planning, Power, Politics
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles Planning, Power, Politics: Urban Redevelopment in Istanbul A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning by Imge Akcakaya Waite 2016 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION Planning, Power, Politics: Urban Redevelopment in Istanbul by Imge Akcakaya Waite Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Planning University of California, Los Angeles, 2016 Professor Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Chair This study examines how local power structures have influenced the politics of planning and decision-making in urban redevelopment projects in Istanbul. The theoretical motive for choosing this topic stems from the small number of empirical work that examines the interplay of power and politics in planning practice, relative to the recognized importance of these factors. Examination of the wide array of questions surrounding planning, power, and politics and the challenges of participatory planning in the context of Istanbul proves rewarding in this respect. On the one hand, as in most developing nations, pluralistic planning processes face significant obstacles in Turkey, such as excessively top-down traditions, lack of accountability on the part of the public sector in establishing public-private partnerships, absence of measures to encourage meaningful citizen participation, and tendency of groups who hold legal, political and financial powers to influence public agencies for their own benefit. On the other hand, Istanbul faces the added problems of earthquake threat and ii mitigation, illegal settlements, excessive population and building densities, and the resulting safety concerns, all of which call for urgent redevelopment measures. To address the questions related to the above problems and motives, the study conducted in-depth interviews with well-informed stakeholders from different actor groups (i.e. planners, local and central government officials, residents, community advocates, and planning faculty of local universities) who influenced the decision-making in two pioneering redevelopment projects in Istanbul, Ayazma-Tepeüstü and Sümer. By using participant observation and triangulation methods, the analysis allowed for comparison within and between different groups of actors as well as comparison of the two projects. Supporting secondary data included archival documents, such as physical and socio-economic analyses of case areas, project contracts, maps, plans, reports and media accounts. The study revealed that the involvement and influence of stakeholders in the two case areas were framed by the existing national legislative and political setting and the search for financial profit on the public and private actors’ side, which tended to ignore or weaken local community involvement and marginalized the less powerful actors. Nevertheless, the two cases also showed differences in the means of community organizing and had different outcomes in regards to population displacement. Overall, it is argued that the inclusion of communities and non-public actors in planning and management has the political function of acting against marginalization by giving these groups access to decision-making, by empowering them, and by making interventions more appropriate to local needs, resources and opportunities. Balanced power relations, equality, social justice and democratic forums are important components of participatory redevelopment processes, and can contribute to the betterment of the planning profession. iii The dissertation of Imge Akcakaya Waite is approved. Vinit Mukhija Diane Favro Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Committee Chair University of California, Los Angeles 2016 iv To the beautiful and courageous people of my beloved country v Table of Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................x List of Tables ............................................................................................... xii List of Acronyms .......................................................................................... xiii Acknowledgments ......................................................................................... xv Author Vita ................................................................................................ xvii PART I. INTRODUCTION Chapter 1. The Why and How of Studying Redevelopment in Istanbul ......................... 2 1.1. Problem statement and case selection Istanbul’s redevelopment at the community’s expense Case projects: the Ayazma-Tepeüstü and Sümer neighborhoods 1.2. Research design and methodology Goal and scope of the study Research questions Methods and process of data collection and analysis 1.3. Outline of the study PART II. THEORETICAL DISCUSSION Chapter 2. Discourses of Power in Decision-Making ............................................... 19 2.1. Conceptual framework Classic and contemporary definitions of power Input from planning: collaborative and participatory approaches 2.2. Power in planning literature: issues and reflections Rationality and/of power Participation and power imbalances Informal networking Representation Additional political realities Planner’s education and preparedness 2.3. Collaborative planning revisited Limitations on governance, social justice and democracy Notable concepts to address power issues Other remedies Chapter 3. Urban Redevelopment as a “New Urban Policy” Tool: International and Turkish Perspectives ............................................................................................... 57 3.1. Conceptual framework The many faces of redevelopment Redevelopment traditions in the Western world The bigger picture: neoliberalism as a motive for redevelopment 3.2. Towards locality: agenda shifts in Turkey and Istanbul vi Historical overview Istanbul’s redevelopment vision and consequences 3.3. Recent redevelopment projects in Istanbul PART III. METHODOLOGY Chapter 4. Assessing the Reality of Power: Research Design, Methods and Validity ........ 89 4.1. Data collection and analysis Interview guides and questions Employment of subjects Participant observation and authenticity Coding and triangulation of data 4.2. Subject profiles 4.3. Research challenges and notes 4.4. Validity assessments PART IV. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH Chapter 5. Ayazma-Tepeüstü Redevelopment Case ............................................. 114 5.1. Development of the case Bizim Halka social empowerment program ‘Rightful’ tenants’ struggle for housing rights 5.2. Actor structure Actors in decision-making Actors in project execution Dominant actors 5.3. Institutional policies and goals 5.4. Factors affecting decision-making Legal factors Political factors Financial factors Institutional factors 5.5. Informed conflicts Between formal actors Between formal actors and community Specific conflict: a closer look at the tenants’ struggle 5.6. Community involvement and perceptions Formal participation and inclusion Residents’ perceptions 5.7. Assessment of the decision-making process by actors Influence of outcomes by power mechanisms Strengths Weaknesses Chapter 6. Sümer Redevelopment Case ............................................................ 211 6.1. Development of the case Land development with private actors The government’s overall uncompromising stance vii 6.2. Actor structure Actors in decision-making Dominant actors 6.3. Institutional policies and goals 6.4. Factors affecting decision-making Legal factors Political factors Financial factors Institutional factors 6.5. Informed conflicts Between formal actors Between formal actors and community Specific conflict: unit area deduction Specific conflict: financial dilemma of small businesses Deferment of conflicts to later project phases 6.6. Community involvement and perceptions Formal participation and inclusion Residents’ perceptions 6.7. Assessment of the decision-making process by actors Influence of outcomes by power mechanisms Strengths Weaknesses Chapter 7. Comparative Assessment of Cases .................................................... 304 7.1. Context summary of the projects Site selection and characteristics Project formulation: physical and financial aspects 7.2. Institutional collaboration Nature of collaboration: actors and power influences Revisiting policies and decision factors 7.3. Community inclusion and responses Governments’ perspectives Residents’ perspectives Chapter 8. Informed Lessons from Redevelopment Practice .................................. 340 8.1. Community oriented policies Housing rights and public housing Quality of life 8.2. Physical planning Master redevelopment planning Local redevelopment planning 8.3. Financial planning Improving the public housing supply Low-cost public housing Engaging alternatives to capital pressure 8.4. Collaborative planning Multi-discipline and multi-actor collaboration viii Strategic organization and sustainability Social dimension and community representation 8.5. Community involvement and empowerment Local participation model Capacity building and organizing Building motivation and trust PART V. CONCLUSIONS Chapter 9. Implications from Theory and Practice .............................................. 362 9.1. Research questions revisited 9.2. Policy recommendations for Istanbul and Turkey Democracy and governance Policy formulation Community empowerment and participation Public housing Local planning decisions Planning practitioners and scholars 9.3. From policy to action: some guiding principles