Młoda demokracja a neoliberalna polityka miejska

In a post-transformational socio-economic situation, urban policy is mainly shaped by two dimensions: a young and relatively weak democracy; and a strong, economically- driven neoliberal policy, which is not balanced by a social welfare policy. Global neoliberal tendencies resulted in a shift of urban policy objectives from collective consumption to economic growth. This dominance of economic aims in urban policy is particularly visible in post-socialist countries, which are struggling to catch up with economically developed countries. The growing social polarisation of urban spaces is a result of the withdrawal of state policy from social welfare tasks. An unstable housing market, gentrification processes initiated by the state-led revitalization, the spread of gated communities, and commercialization of public spaces have given rise to social resistance. Mobilized urban movements are fighting for their rights to their cities. As a reaction to the growing demands from civil society for a more democratic policy, new national legislative proposals relating to urban policy, revitalization policy, and participation procedures have begun to be prepared by the state government.