Can the law remain a framework that safeguards justice when it is reconfigured within the logic of the market? This is not an abstract question or a philosophical exercise in a vacuum; rather, it is a question that directly touches the texts and daily decisions governing people’s lives. Neoliberalism has not merely altered economic policies; it has rewritten the very language of the law itself. Concepts such as “Public Utility” and “social interest” are now interpreted through the lens of the market, while legal texts are translated into investment figures, privatization rates, and land deals.

This is the first paper in the series “Neoliberalism and the Law”.

The paper traces how laws have transformed fundamental social rights—such as health, education, and housing—into fee-based services. It examines the legislative frameworks that codified the state’s retreat from its social roles and positioned the private sector as a key actor in these fields, thereby fundamentally reshaping the relationship between citizen and state.