TY - CHAP
T1 - Degrowth in Practice? Unraveling the Post-Political Effects of Slow City (Cittaslow) Movement in the Anatolian Town of Halfeti Xalfetî
AU - Islar, Mine
AU - Gulbandilar, Gökhan
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
M3 - Book chapter
SN - 1786608960
SN - 978-1-78660-895-6
SN - 978-1-78660-896-3
T3 - Transforming Capitalism
BT - Towards a Political Economy of Degrowth
A2 - Chertkovskaya, Ekaterina
A2 - Paulsson, Alexander
A2 - Barca, Stefania
PB - Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
ER -