CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2023
| Author | Posta, Damla |
|---|---|
| Title | Mega Infrastructures and Complexities of State Power in Istanbul's Northern Periphery: The Case of Agacli and Gokturk |
| Summary | This thesis aims to reveal complex dynamics of mega infrastructural development in Northern Istanbul, with a particular focus on state power and developmentalism, by examining two settlements: the Ağaçlı village and the proximate suburban area Göktürk. It begins by tracing the evolution of the Turkish state’s developmental discourse under the Erdoğan-led AKP into neoliberal developmentalism based on authoritarian urban governance and ambitious mega infrastructures. The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and the Istanbul Airport in Northern Istanbul are prime examples of the state’s infrastructural power. The thesis then delves into the analysis of Ağaçlı and Göktürk, two settlements located between these two megaprojects, which have undergone significant transformations by them. These settlements serve as illustrative examples of peripheral urbanization and offer insights into the temporality of infrastructural development. The study finally explores how the residents of Ağaçlı and Göktürk navigate and actively contribute to the urban and infrastructural transformation in pursuit of material and immaterial gains, modernization, and urban development. Based on semi-structured interviews and participant observation, this thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of how peripheral urbanization unfolds in a megacity while providing a critical perspective on state-imposed mega infrastructures from the residents’ perspective. The research seeks to deepen our understanding of the complex interplay between state power, mega infrastructural development, and agency in contemporary peripheral urban contexts. Keywords: megaprojects, peripheral urbanization, temporality, state power |
| Supervisor | Bodnar, Judit; Markkula, Johanna |
| Department | Sociology MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2023/posta_damla.pdf |
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