Advanced marginality and criminalization: the case of Altındağ. (8th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mercan, Boran Ali; Şen, Mustafa
• Is Part Of: Turkish studies. Volume 22:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 603
• Page End: 625
• Publication Date: 2021-08-08
• Subjects: Neoliberalism -- urban transformation projects -- inner-city slums -- advanced marginality -- organized crime -- drug trade -- Ankara; Turkey -- Periodicals; Turkey -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Turkey -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Turkey -- History -- Periodicals; 956.1
• DOI: 10.1080/14683849.2020.1799197
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-3849

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Many studies have identified the rise of the drug trade in the inner-city slums of Ankara's Altındağ district in the wake of post-urban transformation projects (UTPs). However, none of them has thus far discussed the surge of such organized criminal activity in relation to the wider urban policy regime of Turkey. This paper offers the concept of advanced marginality to understand the complex relations between neoliberal urban governmentality and its repercussions in local areas, which results in UTPs, the disintegration of communality, the emergence of slums, and the rise of illicit enterprises. The paper argues that the formation of organized drug trade in Altındağ following the development of UTPs is an outcome of the advanced marginality resulting from the changing urban governmentality and its deliberate neoliberal political preferences.