What the “new Istanbul” shaped by capital makes one think…

Abstract

Istanbul, which has tried to be administered without high scale plans, strategic acceptance and principles, so as to remain away from "scientific" and "objective" implementations in the name of planning, is today faced with significant problems and threats. The relationships brought forward as a consequence of globalization as well as the fact that the city has been directed in an unconditional manner by capital has led to a city that completely lacks direction to be given by balanced and principle based planning due to unconscious urban management. Although attempts were made to initiate quite significant planning efforts within this process, the fact that central attitude and planning had been unable to assume a legitimate role had always been the most important obstacle for balanced and planned development. In particular, the "large", "autonomous" and "fragmented" projects observed lately are another product or consequence of this crooked system. These "giant" and "arrogant" projects produced by local or central governments in different strategic points of the city are quite dangerous and capital focused approaches will change the appearance of the city at the expense of the alienation of the city to itself. Such projects, for which only capital is a determinant factor, have been the most important factors shaping Istanbul in the last period.