| dc.description.abstract |
Planned as to create an alternative channel to the Bosphorus, and introduced as a ‘crazy project’ in 2011 by the prime minister (whom is
now the president of the Turkish Republic), Kanal (Canal) Istanbul is a mega project that includes not only a canal but also other
comprehensive operations such as coastal structures, ports, new settlements and fill areas. With an estimated cost of approximately 20
billion dollars, the projects subjects the urban landscape, urban fabric, topography and ecological ‘well-being’ of the country’s biggest
metropolis to a gigantic transformation. The alleged justification of the project is to relief of the Bosphorus maritime traffic and (as
emphasized in the Environmental Assessment Report of the project) the potential real estate income. Besides, the project offers a data set
to analyze the role of foreign capital since Qataris investors and government have been major actors so far in the financial dimension.
Although it was decided, planned and ‘owned’ by the Turkish government, the project has recently turned into a political conflict matter as
well by the victory of the opposition party’s candidate at the elections of mayorship in 2019. With the new mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu
evaluating the project as ‘betrayal’ to İstanbul and conducting an opposition campaign publicly, the project is now representing a
fundamental conflict matter between ruling and opposition party on national level. As a recent development, the ministry of interior has
opened an investigation against the mayor for “opposition to the integrity of the administration and state policy using public funds”.
This paper, considering all these, aims to interrogate the mega projects in terms of decision-making, financing, rentier economy, urban
governance and ecological implications specific to the Kanal Istanbul. |
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