A Critical Approach to the Philanthro-Activism of Civil Society Through the February 6 Earthquakes in Türkiye

Abstract

This paper tries to develop a critical approach to the philanthro-activism of civil society by focusing on the earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023. The earthquakes that struck 11 provinces in total have brought the philanthropic activities of civil society organizations to the top of the country's agenda. Although the government seemed not to have any preparation or policy to be able to take action immediately to protect the earthquake victims, civil society organizations were the first to lend the earthquake victims a helping hand. However, the paper questions the philanthro-activism of civil society ontologically and argues that it has proved ineffective in transforming the political-economic structure, but rather functions as an apparatus to secure the existing hierarchical and unequal structure. The main aim of this paper is not to deny or belittle the helping hand that civil society organizations extend to the victims but to emphasize that it is high time to talk about new ways and methods to transform the neoliberal political-economic order.