TÜRKİYE’DE TERMİK SANTRAL KARŞITI HAREKET: ÇIRPILAR ÖRNEĞİ
ANTI-COAL MOVEMENTS IN TURKEY: THE CASE OF ÇIRPILAR

Summary/Abstract: Thanks to such hegemonic discourses as reducing dependence on foreign energy, accelerating economic development or ensuring cheap electricity production, which were employed to create consent in society, thermal power plants have become widespread in Turkey. Of late, environmental movements have emerged against these thermal power plants that threaten human health, the environment, living spaces, and nature. This study examines “the Çırpılar Movement” in Çanakkale, one of the anti-coal power plants movements that have emerged as a result of Turkey’s neoliberal energy policies. The data for this study is obtained through unstructured interviews and qualitative data collection method. Interviews were conducted with 22 interviewees from various environmental groups and organizations, including Kazdağı Natural and Cultural Assets Protection Association, Troy Environmental Association, Ida Solidarity Association, Çanakkale Agricultural Chamber, TEMA Foundation and villagers from Yenice, Çanakkale between 2-5 July 2018. Based on the data retrieved from these interviews, the goals, strategies, and discourses of the participants are analyzed under three main themes: “human health”, “environment” and “economic effectiveness”. Drawing on the works of Antonio Gramsci, this study argues that the Çırpılar anti-coal movement is a counter-hegemonic movement, supported and sustained by common consciousness, values and anti-hegemonic discourses articulated by organic intellectuals.

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