Cosmopolitan mirage in Post-Ottoman cities :|Istanbul's Beyoğlu, Beirut and Alexandria

Abstract

Istanbul’s historically cosmopolitan center Beyoğlu, went into a silent era in the twentieth century. Globalization in late 1990s triggered a nostalgic revival. Beyoğlu was home of a cultural renaissance. By mid 2000s, Istanbul was one of the most visited cities in Europe and Beyoğlu was its most inspiring neighborhood. I call this period the golden age of neo-liberal cosmopolitanism in Beyoğlu. This golden age was a brief one however. With the destructive effects of neo-liberal development and rising political tension in Turkey; the district lost its cosmopolitan soul, particularly from the perspective of the disillusioned groups. These circles relate this outcome to AKP’s authoritarian turn. In this thesis –while recognizing the significance of political factors- I point out the inherent deficiencies of the neo-liberal revival. Gentrification and un-authenticity of the revival was already harming Beyoğlu’s soul. The neo-liberal revival of the 2000s consisted of a consumption of nostalgia, commodification of history and cosmopolitanism. This was not a true renaissance of Istanbul’s past cosmopolitanism. It was a mirage, a brief illusion. Even though this era was a cosmopolitan mirage; its social and cultural achievements are unparalleled in the Republic’s history. This thesis is an attempt to understand the true nature of the past golden age and inspire a more sustainable future cosmopolitan golden age for Beyoğlu.