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The Life and Death of Metropolitan Planning in Turkey
Turkey's metropolitan planning tradition, once a cornerstone of metropolitan governance, began to unravel in the 1990s, giving way to territorial and urban master plans that lacked coordination and sensitivity to the complex dynamics of metropolitan areas (Yıldız, 2006). Historically, metropolitan planning in Turkey provided an integrated framework for managing metropolitan growth, addressing socio-economic challenges. It recognized the importance of tailoring spatial strategies to the unique needs of large urban agglomerations, which today host the majority of the nation’s population and contribute significantly to its economic activities. However, the shift towards fragmented planning has marginalized these considerations, leaving metropolitan regions ill-equipped to face contemporary challenges such as rapid urbanization, climate change, and disaster risks.
The erosion of metropolitan planning in Turkey can be attributed to several factors. Chief among them are the municipal reforms that expanded metropolitan administrative boundaries to encompass vast rural and peripheral areas. While this enlargement aimed to streamline governance, it diluted the focus on core urban issues, transforming strategic planning into simplified implementation tools that prioritized sub-metropolitan concerns. Moreover, the ascendancy of territorial and urban master plans over metropolitan strategies has led to a disconnection between planning and the realities of metropolitan dynamics. These plans, often criticized for their rigidity and lack of inclusivity, fail to address the nuanced interplay of population density, infrastructure demands, and environmental considerations that define urban regions (Hamnett & Freestone, 2000).
Metropolitan areas in Turkey are evolving rapidly. Factors such as automobilization, investments in rail transit systems, and increasing exposure to disaster risks necessitate a more responsive and adaptive planning approach (Morimoto, 2022). The current planning framework's inability to integrate these elements exacerbates challenges such as urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and resource inequities. This study contends that reinstating metropolitan-level strategic planning is not only desirable but essential. Such an approach would provide a comprehensive vision that aligns local, regional, and national priorities while addressing the interconnected challenges of urban governance, sustainability, and resilience (Douay & Minja, 2021; Nared & Bole, 2020).
The aim of this paper is twofold. First, it seeks to chronicle the rise and fall of Turkey’s metropolitan planning tradition, offering a critical analysis of the factors that led to its decline. This historical perspective highlights the disconnect between planning policies and metropolitan realities, illustrating how the abandonment of strategic frameworks has hindered the country’s ability to manage its urban challenges effectively. Second, the paper advocates for the reinstatement of metropolitan strategic planning as a pivotal tool for addressing the complexities of modern urbanization. Drawing on best practices from global case studies and contemporary planning theories, it proposes a participatory and research-driven approach to metropolitan planning that emphasizes inclusivity, flexibility, and sustainability (Ewing & Bartholomew, 2018; Zimmermann et al., 2020).
By integrating multi-modal transportation systems, promoting economic vitality, and enhancing climate resilience, the reinstated metropolitan planning framework would serve as a robust mechanism for guiding Turkey’s metropolitan regions towards a more sustainable and equitable future. The paper also underscores the importance of leveraging technological advancements and data-driven methodologies to make planning more effective and participatory. For instance, the use of scenario planning and stakeholder engagement can ensure that diverse voices are heard, and local needs are prioritized (Levinson & Krizek, 2008; Healey, 2007).
The study argues that the reinvigoration of metropolitan planning tradition is not merely a return to past practices but a forward-looking strategy to tackle the pressing challenges of urbanization, sustainability, and resilience. By doing so, Turkey can transform its metropolitan regions into hubs of innovation and prosperity, capable of navigating the complexities of the 21st century.
References
References
Douay, N. & Minja, M., 2021. Urban Planning for Transitions. London: ISTE.
Ewing, R. & Bartholomew, K., 2018. Best Practices in Metropolitan Transportation Planning. New York: Routledge.
Hamnett, S. & Freestone, R., 2000. The Australian Metropolis: A Planning History. London: Spon Press.
Healey, P., 2007. Urban Complexity and Spatial Strategies: Towards Relational Planning for Our Times. London: Routledge.
Kreukels, A., Salet, W. & Thornley, A., 2003. Metropolitan Governance and Spatial Planning. London: Routledge.
Morimoto, A., 2022. City and Transportation Planning: An Integrated Approach. New York: Routledge.
Nared, J. & Bole, D., 2020. Participatory Research and Planning in Practice. Springer.
Yıldız, R., 2006. "Strategic Spatial Planning at the Metropolitan Level in Turkey," İTÜ Journal of Architecture, Planning, and Design, 5(2), pp. 199–208.
Zimmermann, K., Galland, D. & Harrison, J., 2020. Metropolitan Regions, Planning, and Governance. Cham: Springer.
| Keywords | Metropolitan Planning in Turkey; Urban Governance; Sustainability; Spatial Strategies |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
