Product Description
Neighborhoods are the capillaries of a city. The city comes to life through the combination of these neighborhoods. And it is in these neighborhoods that the city's pulse beats. The neighborhood head (muhtar) is the link between the local community and the central and local government, a vital element on the ground. The neighborhood is a unifying force, a source of life... "The Neighborhood Heads of Istanbul" is a comprehensive work that tells the story of how the city's neighborhoods have changed over time, how they have been governed, and how they have evolved to the present day. The book offers a historical perspective on the small settlements and neighborhood administrations of Istanbul during the Byzantine, Ottoman, and Republican periods. It also presents the reader with many fascinating life stories, from Istanbul's oldest and longest-serving neighborhood head to the first female neighborhood head in Turkey.
This work offers a window into the past, while also documenting current information to pass on to future generations. Furthermore, by focusing on the role of neighborhood representatives (muhtars) in cinema and literature, it provides a popular perspective on this important aspect of Turkish society. Through its interviews, the book introduces Istanbul's most vibrant neighborhood representatives and their communities. It also allows us to learn about the efforts of these representatives in managing their neighborhoods, drawing on their own experiences. "Istanbul with its Neighborhood Representatives" is the most comprehensive work to date on Istanbul's neighborhoods and their representatives, and it also highlights the importance of these communities in urban life. So, let's explore the neighborhoods of Istanbul, both past and present, together...