This thesis is about the urban social movements for public space which defend, reclaim and add use value to urban public spaces. The main aim of the study is to examine the achievements and the effects of these movements to urban policies. The study consists of two main parts. In first part, the conceptual researches were carried out. The concepts of the public space and the right to the city were examined. It was examined what are the urban social movements for public space and in which ways they changed within the historical processes. The research was carried out as part of European and American cities as well as including some cities in Turkey. In the second part, the city of İzmir was chosen for case studies. The urban social movements for public space in İzmir were examined beginning from 1990s. The achievements of these movements and the fact how much presence they establish in urban policies were also evaluated. In case studies, various publications were examined and a media and social media review were carried out; some methods such as direct observation and interview were used. It is concluded in the study that these movements can have a positive effect upon urban policies. While the study is concluded with a comparison between İzmir and the other cities examined within the study; some suggestions were offered to city dwellers that they should continue defending public spaces and to local governments that they should incorporate the ideas and energies of city dwellers in urban planning by working with them.