All rights reservedKozaman, SenemCekic, Tuba Inal2024-09-172024-09-172016978-85-7785-551-1https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14235/1985Proceedings of the IV World Planning Schools Congress, July 3-8th, 2016 : Global crisis, planning and challenges to spatial justice in the north and in the southDepending on David Harvey’s work; built environment is produced by the accumulation and organization of capital and urban environment was also built, and is continuously destroyed and rebuilt, for the sake of creating a more efficient arena for circulation. This process of “creative destruction” is accelerating and is clearly visible in many cities around the globe (Harvey, 2008, 2013). Accordingly; urban space became both a commodity to reproduce capital and a subject of collective struggle in many countries like Turkey. On the other hand; research on urban movements commonly presents that; governing cities and particularly urban public land will gain importance since movements to protect the existing environment against rampant construction frequently succeeded (Mayer, 2012). Furthermore they have the potential to congregate local groups together in global coalitions in which people gather on a common ground for a better life claiming for their right to the city. The metropolis of Istanbul where the research carried out, is one of the most dynamic cities of Turkey and also a city that these urban re-development politics and struggles revealed itself the most. Considering Istanbul, the practices of urban transformation and privatization of public urban land have led to criticism about the role of central government in urban development. Also the lack of citizen involvement in decision-making has led to the formation of a number of community-based organizations (grassroots). “Neighborhood organizations” and “solidarity groups” (initiatives) have become an increasingly important part of politics and civil society.EnglishopenAccessconferenceObject1313-1315