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Overcoming Global Problems through Local Cooperation: The Case of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality

Institutes:

Istanbul Policy Center (IPC), 
Economic Development Foundation (IKV),
Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey (TEPAV)

Project Members:

Senem Aydın-Düzgit, IPC
E. Fuat Keyman, IPC
Nilgün Arısan Eralp, TEPAV
Asmin Kavas Bilgiç, TEPAV
Selin Özokçu, TEPAV
Çiğdem Nas, IKV

Project Duration: Feb 2022 – Dec 2022

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Senem Aydın-Düzgit, email: senem.aydinduzgit@sabanciuniv.edu
Nilgün Arısan Eralp, email: nilgun.arisan@tepav.org.tr
Asmin Kavas Bilgiç, email: asmin.kavas@tepav.org.tr
Selin Özokcu, email: selin.ozokcu@tepav.or.tr
 

The project aimed to explore the possibilities for and limitations of cooperation between Istanbul and comparably important German cities (such as Berlin, Hamburg, Munich and Cologne) that had already demonstrated effectiveness in addressing two common challenges: tackling climate change and protecting vulnerable groups (including refugees, women and those living below the poverty line). Addressing both of these challenges required closer coordination between stakeholders at the local level and government, as well as with NGOs. The project also asked whether such cooperation could potentially revitalise the mostly stalled Turkey–EU–Germany relationship and bring Turkey into closer orbit with Europe.

The project took a policy-oriented approach and strove to provide pragmatic answers to three significant questions: what avenues for cooperation already existed between Turkish and European cities? What were the possibilities for cooperation at the municipal level? And what were the limitations? Pursuing continuous engagement with policymakers through interviews, webinars and final briefings, the research resulted in tailored policy advice.

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