The Role of Spatial Alienation in the Journey of Existence as an Actor in Contested Urban Areas: The Case of Kasımpaşa, Istanbul

Abstract

Although alienation represents the arche of Marxist theory, it has also key role in the field of urbanism. In parallel with people’s labour, their own life and alienation of human to human, the aggressive policies of production-oriented relationships in cities trigger the alienation of people from the city. This research investigates the levels and types of alienation produced by neoliberal urban policies in Kasımpaşa, one of the most chaotic neighbourhoods of Istanbul. A questionnaire survey was conducted with employees of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s located in Kasımpaşa, a group chosen due to their institutional responsibility in urban policies. The findings reveal the levels and processes of alienation experienced by this group within the context of Kasımpaşa while also analysing the urban interventions contributing to spatial alienation.