CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2024
| Author | Kosarhan, Bengisu |
|---|---|
| Title | Negotiating the Borders of Humanity: Street Animals in Turkey and the Biopolitics of Community and Immunity |
| Summary | This thesis explores the biopolitics of street animals within both Western and Turkish contexts, focusing on how these animals have been historically and contemporarily governed, and how they reflect broader socio-political dynamics. Through the lens of Roberto Esposito's theoretical framework, particularly his concepts of community, immunity, and biopolitics, the study investigates the transformation of communal relationships between humans and street animals. It delves into the emergence of biopolitical control during the modernization of the Ottoman Empire and its continuation in the Turkish Republic, analyzing the historical shifts from a culture of mutual coexistence to one dominated by exclusion, control, and violence. The thesis traces the genealogy of these transformations, examining the pivotal role of legal frameworks such as the Ottoman Tanzimat reforms, the 1910 mass exile of street dogs in Istanbul, and the 2004 Animal Protection Law in Turkey. The analysis highlights how these legal and political changes have shaped the status of street animals, leading to their politicization and the complex interplay between affection, violence, and governance. In doing so, the study sheds light on the ongoing tension between the protective intentions of laws and their often exclusionary, violent implementations, revealing the underlying biopolitical dynamics that continue to influence the lives of street animals in Turkey. Through a detailed discourse analysis of the last 20 years, the thesis also addresses the contemporary politicization of street animals, exploring how recent legal amendments and public perceptions have further complicated their status within urban communities. The findings underscore the need to re-evaluate the legal and political frameworks governing street animals, advocating for a more compassionate and inclusive approach that recognizes their integral role in the social fabric of Turkish cities. |
| Supervisor | Yoon, Hyaesin |
| Department | Gender Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2024/kosarhan_bengisu.pdf |
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