Social Networking in the Neighbourhood: A Field Research in Istanbul

Year 2015, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 23 - 50, 27.04.2015

Esra Köten

https://doi.org/10.17336/igusbd.13689

Cited By: 1

Abstract

This study discusses the life in the neighbourhoods stuck between the gated communities recently built in the district of Sancaktepe, in terms of neighbourliness and social networks in the neighbourhood. In this context, in-depth interviews were conducted with the residents of the neighbourhoods about their lives, experiences, relations, urban structure, urban transformation and the rise of gated communities. All interviewees stated that they were generally content with where they lived, and, for most of them, the key factor for this satisfaction was the neighbourly relations. Contrary to the prevalent opinion that urbanization weakens the neighbourly relations, the neighbourhood residents emphasized the intensiveness of the neighbourly relations and its determining role in their lives, and they distinctly distinguished themselves from those living in the gated communities by virtue of these relations.

Keywords

Neighbourliness; neighbourhood; social networks; urbanization; gated community

Social Networking in the Neighbourhood: A Field Research in Istanbul

Abstract

Bu çalışmada İstanbul’un çevre bölgelerinden biri olan Sancaktepe ilçesinde son yıllarda inşa edilen güvenlikli sitelerin arasında kalan mahallelerdeki yaşam, komşuluk ilişkileri temelinde ele alınmıştır. Mahallelilerle buradaki yaşamları, deneyimleri, ilişkileri, kentsel yapılanma, dönüşüm ve siteleşme üzerine derinlemesine görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Görüşülenlerin tamamı yaşadıkları yerden genel olarak memnun olduklarını, büyük çoğunluğu ise bunda en önemli etkenin komşuluk ilişkileri olduğunu belirtmiştir. Komşuluğun kentleşme ile zayıfladığına yönelik yaygın kanının aksine, mahalleliler komşuluk ilişkilerinin yoğunluğunu ve hayatlarındaki belirleyiciliğini vurgulamakta ve kendilerini sitelerde yaşayanlardan belirgin biçimde bu ilişkiler ile ayırmaktadırlar.

Keywords

Komşuluk; mahalle; sosyal ağlar; kentleşme; güvenlikli site

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