This study examines the dynamics of socio-cultural change in a peripheral neighbourhood in Istanbul, an ''edge city'' that is ethnically mixed, culturally heterogeneous, socially differentiated and spatially multi-functional. One major focus in the study is the changing nature of social relations in traditional groups. Though kinship, hems¸eri (place of origin) and neighbourhood solidarity is still crucial in the lives of the migrants, participation in these groups becomes more voluntary and the ties among members less obligatory. Secondly, the ethnic and religious groupings in the neighbourhood are not always exclusive, authoritarian and patriarchal communities. What generally appears as rigid communitarian fragmentation is often one of cultural diversity for the residents of the locality. The associational pluralism that exists in the neighbourhood enables people to claim multiple ethnic, religious, political and cultural identities. Thirdly, though they compare unfavourably with their middle class counterparts in the city, the new neighbourhoods provide greater opportunities and more public space for interaction among the members of the locality than for instance, the rural communities. The study also questions the often taken-for-granted image of a rigidly polarized city in view of empirical evidence that indicates the multiple and complex economic and political links between the new neighbourhoods and the broader urban society. Finally, isolation from middle class areas in the city does not necessarily lead to the exclusion of the whole peripheral urban population from urban life, urban institutions and urban culture. These become increasingly present in the new In order to analyze this multi-layered social structure this study focuses on four major levels of social interaction, as well as the relationships between them: the circles of interpersonal association based on kinship, hems¸eri and neighbourhood; ethnic and religious networks and groupings; the expansion of the public sphere; and the relationship of the new neighbourhood community to the wider metropolitan context.
CHALLENGES, DEBATES AND DISCOURSESIn Istanbul, as in many other parts of the world, the process of globalization has facilitated the growth of occupational differentiation and specialization, the importing of new ideas, technologies and investments, the development of new economic sectors, and the expansion of cultural activities and industries. On the negative side, however, it has intensified competition, sharpened income inequalities, increased cultural fragmentation, and created new kinds of social cleavage and conflict. The globally well-connected sections of the population are generally employed in large-scale corporations, finance and banking, producer services, wholesale trade, higher-order consumer services, international tourism, media institutions, and cultural industries. The characteristic urban spaces that symbolize the global economy are the office blocks,
