Neoliberal Abandon or Care Society? Thoughts on the Aftermath of the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes

Abstract

This essay reflects on the aftermath of the Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes on 6 February 2023 through the concepts of neoliberal abandon, solidarity, and care society. It argues that the extraordinary destruction caused by the earthquake is partly attributable to several decades of neoliberal policies that disregarded disaster risks in favor of policies that prioritized profit and rent-seeking, which it calls neoliberal abandon. In the wake of the earthquake, it may be possible to enlarge the scope of solidarity and build caring communities so as to make cities more capable to withstand natural disasters. However, neoliberal abandon still stands as the biggest threat in front of that possibility.