Local government reform in Turkey and its aftermath: the urban transformation of Istanbul between 1984 and 1989

Turkey witnessed its first serious decentralization attempt in 1984 amidst a radical shift to a neoliberal development model in a post-military climate. Despite a pre-existing demand for greater local autonomy, local government reform was only possible under the liberal framework of the ANAP government, which aimed to loosen the grip of the central state. The reform introduced a two-tier metropolitan governance in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, granting municipalities unprecedented financial and administrative autonomy. This marked a radical drift from the strong centrist tradition and led to the emergence of ‘super mayors’ in Turkish politics. As the first example, the Metropolitan Mayor of Istanbul, Bedrettin Dalan, implemented a sweeping redevelopment program between 1984 and 1989 and became a prominent figure in the city’s urban narrative. The politico-administrative reforms and their immediate results on Istanbul define an important point in the city’s recent history, thus worth further exploring.