"Association" as an alternative method in the presentation of urban services: Diyarbakır Sarmaşık Fighting Poverty and Sustainable Development Association (2006-2016)

Urban services are the service areas that provide reproduction of society and defined by use value rahter than exchange value. There is an ongoing debate about what urban services are, how to produce and who will produce. The discussions about who should be the producer of these services cannot get out of the state and private sector clamp. But it is necessary to develop a perspective beyond the understanding that objectifies society in the processes related to these services. The way to this is through the construction of a new publicity. Thus, urban services that have recently been subject to privatization will be socialized through the public sphere, including the inhabitants of the city/citizens. This socialization necessity is basically based on the idea of the city right. The right to the city refers to the transfer of rights to the inhabitants of the city, which is the property of the capital and the state. Municipalities are obliged to provide urban services as a local government unit. However, being associated with democracy rather than being a service unit determines what methods to use in offering these services. Diyarbakir Metropolitan Municipality, due to the right of the city, has tried to include residents in the provision of urban services through Sarmaşık Association, which it established incoporating local civil organizations. The association will be discussed as an alternative method in urban service delivery based on this example. Keywords: Urban Services, Public Space/Publicity, the Right of the City, Municipality, Association