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Paper short abstract:

This paper discusses how Neo-Ottomanist urban transformation in İstanbul, Turkey, is picked up by the local population in the historical peninsula, Fatih. Through digital map research, I show that the contemporary "conquest spirit" has materiality and shapes everyday encounters.

Paper long abstract:

Istanbul served as the capital of many empires, and it retains the echoes of this cultural heritage. Istanbul’s history as an imperial capital and host of diverse ethno-religious populations made the city a major sight of political antagonisms, and the city never lost its vogue. In contemporary Turkey, Istanbul became the focal point of President Erdoğan's and AKP government's Neo-Ottomanist policies. Conquest is the hallmark of the Neo-Ottomanist imaginary (Bargu 2021), and Istanbul has been going through a reconquest. While the city is transformed into a neoliberal hub, its cosmopolitan cultural heritage is redefined as more Turkish and Sunni Islamic. The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque, the establishment of the grand Çamlıca Mosque and Panorama 1453 Museum, the celebration of Istanbul’s conquest, and the extensive urban transformation of Beyoğlu are manifestations of this neoliberal "conquest spirit”. Conversely, resistances persist, such as Gezi protests, preservation efforts of NGOs, and opposition-led governance of the Istanbul municipality. This paper zooms into the historical peninsula, Fatih, to discuss how these overarching changes are picked up by local people and translated to the everyday level. Through digital map research, I trace the rise of public spaces, businesses, shops, and organizations named “conquest”, “1453”, and “Ottoman” in the historical peninsula. I discuss how a symbolic yet a very tangible conquest is taking place. I show that the “conquest spirit” has materiality in Istanbul, where it doesn't only shape the urban landscape but also everyday encounters and engagement with the city.