Abdul Ahad Naeem

2177228

Neoliberalism is a modified form of liberalism that tends to favour free-market capitalism. David

Harvey conveys that neoliberalism took its roots in late 1960s and became prevalent in 1970s as the

capitalist class was losing power, influence, wealth and they wanted to recover what they believed

was rightfully theirs. This ideology has the result of separating the rich and the poor class, physically

and socially.

In Ecumenopolis: City Without Limits, it has been portrayed that the government is on a mission to

turn Istanbul into a global city. TOKI, the Turkish Housing Administration, started to transfer public

schools, hospitals and worker neighborhoods to domestic and foreign capitals. Encroachments that

existed for many years were demolished. These included settlements mainly in important localities,

such as near Olympic stadium. The mayor of the city afforded one year’s rent of some households

that protested.

After one year, the people were allotted new apartments that were constructed in Istanbul’s

outskirts away from business centers and city centers. This was an attempt from the government to

separate the poor from the rich. They were forced to pay a down payment for their apartment and

monthly installments that they cannot afford. They cannot reach working place as they were too far

away from them. They felt alienated. However, the officials from TOKI believed they have created a

better life and standard of living by moving people from living in encroachments to concrete

buildings.

This situation explained is in line with David Harvey’s explanation of neoliberalism. The capitalist

have created better prospects for themselves by exploiting the situation of the poor class who do

not possess enough resources to help themselves and change their situation.