518 Urban Geography, 2008, 29, 6, pp. 518–525. DOI: 10.2747/0272-3638.29.6.518 Copyright © 2008 by Bellwether Publishing, Ltd. All rights reserved. URBAN PULSE—(RE)MAKING SPACE FOR GLOBALIZATION IN ISTANBUL 1 Ozan Karaman 2 Department of Geography University of Minnesota Abstract: This paper provides critical reflections on the urban transformation campaign launched by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) as part and parcel of its ambitions to upgrade Istanbul to “world city” status. I focus on two main aspects of “urban transformation” in Istanbul: prestige mega-projects and (re)development of informal housing areas, with particular emphasis on the latter. I examine how poor residents’ livelihoods are put at stake in spite of the IMM’s claim that “urban transformation” is ultimately beneficial for all citizens. I conclude with the unique policy challenges that the local governments face in developing participatory models for urban renewal and regeneration in Istanbul. [Key words: urban transformation, urban renewal, squatter redevelopment, gecekondus, Istanbul.] In its attempts to market Istanbul as a “world city” and to attract international business, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) is spearheading an ambitious campaign of “urban transformation.” The IMM—which is presently controlled by the Islamic “Justice and Development Party” (JDP)—is an active promoter and partner in numerous large- scale prestigious projects across the city; these include business towers, shopping malls, waterfront development projects, luxury hotels, and a variety urban revitalization proj- ects. In these efforts, the IMM has one overarching priority: marketing the spaces of Istanbul for foreign investment. Following the declaration of Istanbul as one of the “European Capitals of Culture 2010” by the Council of the European Union, 2010 has been marked as the crucial milestone for the Istanbul’s urban transformation campaign. Whereas the IMM promotes “urban transformation” as ultimately beneficial for all citizens, its attitude toward the urban poor has raised serious concerns. In the IMM’s discourse, the squatter settlements and dilapidated neighborhoods in the historic city cen- ter are portrayed as eyesores that actively undercut Istanbul’s global city bid. Hence, the clearance of squatter areas for lucrative redevelopment and the enforced gentrification of the inner-city slums are seen as necessary for Istanbul’s global future. I offer a critical scrutiny of these two leading aspects of “urban transformation” in Istanbul, namely pres- tige mega-projects, and (re)development of informal housing areas, both in terms of the unique policy challenges they pose in a metropolis of 12.5 million and from the perspec- tive of the residents whose livelihoods are at stake. 1 The author thanks Helga Leitner for her very helpful comments and suggestions on earlier drafts of this essay. 2 Correspondence concerning this essay should be addressed to Ozan Karaman, Department of Geography, 414 Social Sciences Building, University of Minnesota, 267 19th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455; telephone: 612-625-6080; fax: 612-624-1044; e-mail: karam014@umn.edu