The post-politics of the green economy in Turkey : re-claiming the future?

Abstract

The green economy is often defined as an economic configu ration that results in improved human well - being and social equity, while reducing (or at least decoupling from) environmental risks . It is elusive, and can be read as a new way of ensuring and maintaining capital accumulation accompanied by neoliberal austerity policies , where a green rationale is required to maintain the structural roots of the global political economy. As such, critics often identify its self -contradictory nature , in giving legitimacy and coherence to a number of public policies. This article critically examines the post- politicisation of the green economy , by tracing its social construction and meaning -making . In doing so, it follows the green economy debate in the post -politicization of the environment in Turkey, a rapidly developing country with significant socio -ecological challenges. Th e analysis suggests that the green economy will become more important at Turkey tr ies to meet international environmental agreements . Th e article sheds light on its preparatory report for the Rio+20 Summit, titled Turkey' s sustainable development report: claiming the futu re 2012 . We find that the green economy serves as a useful discursive tool to legitimize a state - facilitated, market -driven, full -frontal assault on ecosystems in Turkey, particularly in the energy sector. We argue that a clear rejection of such framings and the development of alternatives to post - politicization, are the two key challenges facing the environmental movement in the country.

<p>QC 20170517</p>