Transformation of social state and social municipalism: Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality example

Social policy instruments have played important roles for maintaining social welfare since the beginning of the civilizations until today. As a result of the crisis in 1929, states took on the interventionist approach of Keynes. Groundbreaking progress that takes social welfare forward was seen in that era when states couldn't help interfering with the social and economic life. States played an important role to eliminate social problems by intervening with the social and economic life. States of welfare which had their golden age from 1945 to 1975 produced significant welfare policies. Central administrations that produced these welfare policies gave the executive function to local administrations. Understanding of state welfare transformed itself into social municipalism especially due to the increase of public spending and the influence of indigenization. Within context of social municipalism that first appeared in 1970s as socialist municipalism then gained power after 1980s, many opportunities were created for women, kids, teens, people with disabilities, elder and poor people. Strengthened by the laws enacted in 2000s, concept of social municipalism has got even more effective. It is seen, however, that municipalities face with some problems including resources shortage, lack of coordination with other organizations or units, and lack of inspection. It is seen that such activities that are realized within the context of social municipalism are mostly based on social aids and social services. Consultancy, socialization, investment and guidance are among other functions of local administrations in addition to social aids. In this study, social municipalism activities executed by the units of Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality that has become Metropolitan with the Law No:6360 dated 2012. This study covers works of the Kahramanmaraş Metropolitan Municipality units to reveal if they coincide with the term social municipalism.