Athens in the Times of Green Neoliberalism: Contesting the Green Imaginary of the Ellinikon

Abstract

This thesis examines the imaginaries surrounding the Ellinikon project, a contemporary urban regeneration initiative located in the southern part of Athens, Greece. Still under construction, the Ellinikon project is an eight-billion-euro investment, allegedly the largest urban regeneration project in Europe, expected to contribute to Greece’s GDP by 2.5%. Being promoted as a green city, it is to include a two-million-square-meter park, accompanied by residential developments, hotels, and shopping centers. Research is guided by three primary research questions: 1. In what ways has the ‘green city’ imaginary been incorporated into the Ellinikon project’s vision? 2. What purposes does the incorporation of the ‘green city’ imaginary in Ellinikon’s vision serve? 3. How do residents and other stakeholders engage with and contest the ‘green city’ imaginary promoted by the Ellinikon project, and what alternative visions and narratives emerge from these contestations?