Public land grabbing in the age of neoliberalism: Legal and political mechanisms of capital accumulation in Turkey’s Green Road Project

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 52 Sayı: 2, 375 - 402, 30.12.2025

Melek Mutioğlu Özkesen

Öz

This study examines land grabbing in Turkey through the Green Road Project, situating it within broader theoretical discussions. Introducing the concept of "public land grabbing," it argues that Turkey’s reliance on public lands and the nature of public ownership shape the legal, institutional, and political mechanisms of land acquisitions via megaprojects. Using legal analysis, field studies, media coverage, and archival research, the study highlights three key arguments: (1) Legal amendments facilitate the commercial repurposing of public lands under the guise of "public interest"; (2) Public-private partnerships enable access to capital on public lands, fostering a crony form of capital accumulation; and (3) "Public interest" rhetoric delegitimizes opposition and fragments resistance.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Green Road , Public Land , Megaprojects , Land Grabbing , Public-Private Partnership

Etik Beyan

The author declared that the study has no unethical issues and that research and publication ethics have been observed carefully.

Destekleyen Kurum

The author received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Neoliberalizm Çağında Kamu Arazilerinin Gaspı: Türkiye’nin Yeşil Yol Projesinde Sermaye Birikiminin Hukuki ve Siyasal Mekanizmaları

Öz

Bu çalışma, Türkiye’deki Yeşil Yol Projesi üzerinden kamu arazilerinin el değiştirme süreçlerini “kamu arazilerinin gaspı” kavramı üzerinden ele almaktadır. Bu çerçeveden hareketle, Türkiye’deki kamu mülkiyeti rejiminin yapısal özellikleri ile kamu arazilerine duyulan kurumsal bağımlılığın, toprak gasplarında merkezi bir rol oynadığı ileri sürülmekte ve bunun en önemli kaynağının da megaprojeler olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır. İlgili yasal düzenlemeleri, saha çalışmalarını ve arşiv belgelerini inceleyen ve medya taraması yapan çalışma, üç temel bulguya odaklanmaktadır: (1) Yasal düzenlemeler, kamu yararı söylemiyle kamu arazilerinin ticarileştirilmesini kolaylaştırmakta; (2) Kamu-özel iş birliği modeli, bu arazilere sermayenin erişimini mümkün kılarak kayırmacı birikim ilişkilerini beslemekte; (3) “Kamu yararı” retoriği muhalefetin taleplerini gayrimeşrulaştırarak toplumsal direnişi parçalamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Yeşil Yol , Kamu Toprağı , Megaprojeler , Toprak Gaspı , Kamu-Özel İşbirliği

Etik Beyan

Yazar, çalışmada herhangi bir etik dışı durum bulunmadığını ve araştırma ile yayın etiği kurallarına titizlikle uyulduğunu beyan etmektedir.

Destekleyen Kurum

Yazar, bu makalenin araştırılması, yazarlığı ve/veya yayımlanması için herhangi bir mali destek almadığını beyan etmektedir.

Kaynakça

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