Protests in Turkey

The largest protests Istanbul has seen in many years began on 27 May as a sit-in by environmental activists wanting to prevent the renovation of Gezi Park, a small green space near central Taksim Square. The government has planned to redesign Taksim Square. The plans include removing the trees of Gezi Park and replacing them with a shopping mall and a reconstruction of an Ottoman military barracks. The protestors in Istanbul are aggrieved at what they see as negligence by local authorities to address political concerns about urban overdevelopment.

On Thursday 30 May police tried to remove the protestors by dispersing them with tear gas and setting their tents on fire. During the next 24 hours, thousands joined in demonstrations against the excessive use of police force, which provoked further police action using high-pressure water hoses and tear gas. The protests changed from environmental demonstration against urban reconstruction to riots against police violence and demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Erdogan. The protests have spread throughout the country after various other political groups and trade unions came out against the government. Although the current protests appear spontaneous, they are part of a continued series of demonstrations and public denunciations of private development projects in Istanbul.

Istanbul has been the object of private urban renovation and renewal under AK Party rule. A number of new infrastructure projects have been inaugurated during the tenure of the party which threatens to remake the city in the interests of private concentrations of capital. Many of the projects threaten green spaces and destroy vital flora in an already polluted city. These projects include approved plans for constructing a third Bosporus bridge which would cut through parks and green spaces, constructing the world’s largest airport in a forest district of Istanbul, plans to construct a canal to divert shipping traffic from the Bosporus, a new metro project linking the European and Anatolian sides of the city which has destroyed newly discovered historic artifacts, the destruction of the historic Emek cinema, gentrification projects in the historic center of Tarlabasi, a massive mosque project in Camlica, and a land-reclamation project along the Golden Horn which would replace warehouses with apartments and shopping malls. These future projects will stand alongside newly completed skyscrapers, shopping malls, roads, and private housing complexes that are dramatically re-shaping the city. As such, Istanbul is becoming one of the fastest growing and overdeveloped cities in the Mediterranean and the world. Approximately 18 per cent of the population of Turkey lives in the city. Overdevelopment in Istanbul is a perennial concern for its residents, and has sparked heated debate in the past. In this sense, the current protests are a cumulative public reaction to a growing and heated trend against urban renewal programs which benefit private capital rather than democratic concerns over public space and sustainable urban development.

Turkey ranks 54th in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, placing it as one of the most corrupt countries in Europe and the Middle East. Corruption has played a large role in building and construction contracts throughout the country. The lack of strict law enforcement regarding construction of urban housing has led not only to improperly constructed buildings on private land, but also to the expansion of gecekondu – squatter housing. Massive projects to destroy gecekondu and re-locate their residents have been met with negative reactions and demonstrations. Current plans to gentrify central locations such as Tarlabasi have been met with resistance as many urban residents in these areas may become disenfranchised from affordable housing and displaced to the growing squatter settlements. Istanbul is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, with a population of over 10 million, many of whom are unregistered, and current plans towards privatization and removal of green spaces will have consequences for any kind of sustainable urban development and housing for the city. It is estimated that one-third of the city is living in squatter or pseudo-squatter settlements, and more than 25% are in poverty. Vulnerability in access to welfare and employment are felt by youth, women and migrants, and disproportionately affect those in the bottom income quintile as well as those who do not appear in official statistics. Public and private investment is skewed towards private restructuring projects to attract global investment which benefit managerial elite. Istanbul’s restructuring has involved investment in major skyscrapers, hotels and the accompanying service venues, hallmarked by distinct districts which contain high concentrations of capital and wealth. 

Turkey is among many developing countries with high inequality in income. Income distribution in the 1990s was highly skewed, with the top 20% of households maintaining a share of 60% of national income. The lowest 20% of households had less than a 5% share of national income. Turkey’s Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality for the country as a whole, was 41 in 2007, a designation of inequality compared to many European Union countries such as Denmark. Income distribution has improved since the economic crisis of 2001 and the 2002 general elections, but unmet needs for housing has grown in rapidly expanding cities like Istanbul. Although the country has witnessed impressive economic growth of around 7% a year, jobs have not grown as quickly, with unemployment around 9-10%. Youth unemployment is double the national average, at around 19-20%. Around half of Turkey’s population is under the age of 30. Unemployed youth have helped swell the ranks of the current protests.

Police violence has been a feature of the protests since 30 May. The police have used excessive force against peaceful demonstrations and gatherings. Many have improperly fired tear-gas guns directly at individuals and crowds. Because of a general climate of police impunity in Turkey, the public has thought that members of the police will not be brought to justice, contributing further to the public reaction against the government. Media coverage of the protests has been constrained, raising further calls for press freedom in a country with a history of censorship and continued arrests of journalists. Protesting itself is considered a terrorist offence. Some activists have been jailed because of comments made on Twitter