Local Government in Turkey : Governing Greater Istanbul

In Turkey during the 20th century, great emphasis was placed on the decentralization of government as a means of further opening up the political system and helping the economy. Originally published in 1989, this book assesses how successful this policy was and examines to what extent decentralization in metropolitan areas was achieved.

Istanbul is the largest city in Türkiye and one of the largest cities in Europe with a population (in 2025) of more than 15 million. In Turkey during the latter part of the twentieth century, great emphasis was placed on the decentralization of government as a means of further opening up the political system and helping the economy. Originally published in 1989, this book assesses how successful this policy was and examines to what extent decentralization in metropolitan municipalities was achieved. Looking at the issues of authority, responsibility and resources, the contributors focus on the experience of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipal system to illustrate the broader themes. The analysis throughout is placed in the context of Turkish national politics and the legal framework, and the book concludes with suggestions for reform and a study of the Turkish case from a comparative perspective.