Insurmountable Tension? On the Relation of World Heritage and Rapid Urban Transformation in Istanbul

Abstract

This article gives an overview of the heritage management system in Turkey with a special focus on Istanbul. Referring to relevant works on this subject from the past few years, I want to illustrate the powerful role of the Turkish state and other important actors in the transformation of cultural heritage areas. Through a discussion of examples drawn from my own research in Istanbul, I review the label of UNESCO World Heritage and its potential to protect cultural heritage from inappropriate interventions and developments. The World Heritage Committee and people working in the field of heritage preservation often highlight structural deficits in the Turkish management system. Instead, I argue that seemingly inadequate conservation practices can also be interpreted as an integral part of the management system which allows for a combination of heritage preservation and urban transformation. A multi-faceted management structure pleases international organizations and investors, while ambiguous responsibilities hinder the formation of an effective opposition against urban transformation projects in historic neighbourhoods.