Integration of the Formal and the Informal: The Case of Izmir-Ege Neighborhood and the Alsancak District

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Diktaş E. O., Özbek E. İ.

III. Contemporary Urban Issues Conference, Tulum,Hande, Editör, DAKAM Yayınları, İstanbul, ss.42-49, 2015

  • Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Araştırma Kitabı
  • Basım Tarihi: 2015
  • Yayınevi: DAKAM Yayınları
  • Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.42-49
  • Editörler: Tulum,Hande, Editör
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Modern social system depends upon a formal base. In other words, it exists on a technical and bureaucratic system. However, within the dialectical structure of existence it needs to correlate with its opponent. Hence, informality develops as part of the existence strategy of the urban poor in the modern economic and social structure especially in the developing world. In such a case, the integration of the formal and informal has positive outputs. On the other hand, informality may also become the tool for high amounts of illegal capital flow that leads to negative outputs.

In the case of Turkey, since 1950s, beginning with the industrialization process, the social, economical and spatial problems due to migration flows to the metropolitan cities have not been resolved yet by the formal system. As a result, especially by 1970s informal developments have taken more part in the economical, social and spatial aspects of urban life. Since the second half of the 20th century, authorities have made attempts to overcome informality and transform the informal to the formal. One of these attempts have dwelled upon the urban regeneration projects that are concentrated in the metropolitan cities.

Romans in Turkey, are one of the minority groups. Their existence in society mostly depends upon spatial and economical informality. The inhabitants of Ege neighbourhood located at Alsancak district within the city of Izmir are mostly Romans. Living at the edge of the formal Alsancak district gives them an opportunity to integrate their informal economical and spatial structure with the formal structure of Alsancak. This research aims to understand integrity between the informal and the formal of these two parts of the city. The paper will depend upon the interviews that have been carried with the residents of Ege neighbourhood. The paper aims to explain the integration and exclusion levels between these two parts of the city.

Keywords: Izmir Ege Neighbourhoods; Romans; Formal; Informal; Integration