The State, Islamists, Discourses, and Bourgeoisie: The Construction Industry in Turkey

The construction sector became source of controversies in recent years in Turkey. This study is devised to explore the three crucial elements of controversial construction 'craziness' that Turkey has experienced since 2002, when the Islamic conservative Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) came to power, sweeping victory in the parliamentary elections with 34.3 per cent of the total votes. The first element is a regarded relation between GDP and the construction industry with its supposedly strong linkages with other industries. The second element is the mounting extensive and direct involvement of the AKP governments in the sector, especially through Housing Development Administration of Turkey. Finally yet importantly, the clientelistic networks between the AKP and some privileged businessmen have to be mentioned. Exploring these elements leads to the conclusion that during the AKP era the political involvement in and the economic development of sector became inextricably enmeshed. Hence, unfolding discourses, institutions, structures and the actors that are relevant to the industry gives some answers to the question of why the construction has been the source of conflicts and struggles in the last decade.