Istanbul, Where To?; Global City, Culture, Europe

Where is Istanbul Going? is the first book to discuss Istanbul's rise on the world stage during what we might call the era of "post-industrial capitalism." It aims to offer new approaches and analyses of Istanbul's image as a city of culture, history, and diversity.

Cities around the world are adopting global city projects, competing with each other to establish their place on the map. However, the passion for globalization yields different results in each city in the areas of civil society, urban planning and administration, and image production in the media.

The Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture program aimed to strengthen Turkey's ties with Europe and, through Europe, to open up to the world. Where is Istanbul Going? was conceived with the idea that this process presented a good opportunity to examine the interactions between urban administration, civil society organizations, artists, activists, and the general public.

The articles in the book, which include contributions from practitioners working in the cultural field as well as academic research, are grouped into five sections: "Roads to Globalization," "Debates on Heritage and Renewal," "The Mediatized City," "Art in the City," and "A European Capital?" Through research ranging from urban transformation, architecture, and conservation to art exhibitions, cinema, and literature, the steps taken towards integration with Europe and globalization are brought together in a unique depiction of how they are reflected in the streets of Istanbul and in the lives of its urban citizens.