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Degrowth in Practice? Unraveling the Post-Political Effects of Slow City (Cittaslow) Movement in the Anatolian Town of Halfeti Xalfetî

Islar, Mine LU and Gulbandilar, Gökhan (2019) In Transforming Capitalism
Abstract
In this article, we argue that Slow City processes in Halfeti are used as a strategy to preclude the uncertainty in its development path, especially in view of the effects of Birecik Dam on the town. By using Swyngedouw’s post-political critique, we further argue that Slow City’s goals to ensure sustainability in the context of Halfeti serve to depoliticize the problems related to infrastructure, environmental degradation, and lost income sources after the Birecik Dam construction as well as the political conflicts between Kurdish and Turkish municipalities. In addition to that, we aim to question the adequacy of Slow City ideals in pursuing sustainability. This article is structured as follows. The first part explores the goals and... (More)
In this article, we argue that Slow City processes in Halfeti are used as a strategy to preclude the uncertainty in its development path, especially in view of the effects of Birecik Dam on the town. By using Swyngedouw’s post-political critique, we further argue that Slow City’s goals to ensure sustainability in the context of Halfeti serve to depoliticize the problems related to infrastructure, environmental degradation, and lost income sources after the Birecik Dam construction as well as the political conflicts between Kurdish and Turkish municipalities. In addition to that, we aim to question the adequacy of Slow City ideals in pursuing sustainability. This article is structured as follows. The first part explores the goals and experiences of the Slow City network and positions Slow City as post-political. In the second part, we detail the emergence of the Slow City network in Turkey and our case in Halfeti. The third part discusses Slow City in Halfeti as a mechanism of depoliticization by showing empirical evidence. Finally, we conclude the article by summarizing our points, discussing further challenges in implementing Slow City projects, and reflecting on their implications for the ways in which degrowth is understood. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Towards a Political Economy of Degrowth
series title
Transforming Capitalism
editor
Chertkovskaya, Ekaterina ; Paulsson, Alexander and Barca, Stefania
publisher
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
ISBN
1786608960
978-1-78660-895-6
978-1-78660-896-3
978-1-78660-897-0
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e0490c94-4f8f-4e4f-8dc1-6ecc55a2ead5
date added to LUP
2019-11-19 09:15:11
date last changed
2019-11-19 16:03:19
@inbook{e0490c94-4f8f-4e4f-8dc1-6ecc55a2ead5,
  abstract     = {{In this article, we argue that Slow City processes in Halfeti are used as a strategy to preclude the uncertainty in its development path, especially in view of the effects of Birecik Dam on the town. By using Swyngedouw’s post-political critique, we further argue that Slow City’s goals to ensure sustainability in the context of Halfeti serve to depoliticize the problems related to infrastructure, environmental degradation, and lost income sources after the Birecik Dam construction as well as the political conflicts between Kurdish and Turkish municipalities. In addition to that, we aim to question the adequacy of Slow City ideals in pursuing sustainability. This article is structured as follows. The first part explores the goals and experiences of the Slow City network and positions Slow City as post-political. In the second part, we detail the emergence of the Slow City network in Turkey and our case in Halfeti. The third part discusses Slow City in Halfeti as a mechanism of depoliticization by showing empirical evidence. Finally, we conclude the article by summarizing our points, discussing further challenges in implementing Slow City projects, and reflecting on their implications for the ways in which degrowth is understood.}},
  author       = {{Islar, Mine and Gulbandilar, Gökhan}},
  booktitle    = {{Towards a Political Economy of Degrowth}},
  editor       = {{Chertkovskaya, Ekaterina and Paulsson, Alexander and Barca, Stefania}},
  isbn         = {{1786608960}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Rowman & Littlefield Publishers}},
  series       = {{Transforming Capitalism}},
  title        = {{Degrowth in Practice? Unraveling the Post-Political Effects of Slow City (Cittaslow) Movement in the Anatolian Town of Halfeti Xalfetî}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}