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Grant No.

22－G34

Research Report
Name : ALAA ALSHERFAWI ALJAZAERLY
Organization (at the start of the grant period): Osaka University

Title of Research: Urban Social Sustainability in East Mediterranean Megacities: a Case Study of Istanbul

Purpose of Research:（200 words）
Co-existence among different groups allows them to work together to improve the places they inhabit. The relationshipbetween people and their own human and nature in terms of how people care for their built and natural environment,
how they manage their diversity of ethnicity, and how to make the environment work for people are major concerns forsocial sustainability. Turkiye, especially Istanbul, present an excellent example. In terms of how in an urban society
where there are emerging diversities of people and ethnicities and also the issue of accepting different groups to work
together and how is it reflected in urban space over time. Based on this context, this research seeks to identify the social
sustainability attributes in socially mixed neighbourhoods and explore the different experiences among the different
groups. Based on the premise that cosmopolitan cities are typically characterised by diverse ethnicities with resultant
varying experiences for different groups, through the lens of different groups in Istanbul. Istanbul, one of the most highly
cosmopolitan cities in the world and known for a long time as a hub for migrants, offers an ample setting for this study,
especially given recent socio-political happenings and urban development challenges. The study used mixed methods
involving questionnaires and interviews to explore local residents in two neighbourhoods’ everyday experiences of social
sustainability dimensions, including social networking, safety, and neighbourhood satisfaction.
Content/Methodology of Research:（400 words）
The research uses case studies approach, adopting Istanbul as a multiethnic megacity model for exploring social
sustainability and co-existence in socially diverse neighbourhoods. The methodological framework combines a Mixed
methodology of quantitative and qualitative methods, facilitating a comprehensive investigation into social sustainability
attributes within urban spaces. First, the study initiates an Extensive literature review on social sustainability and coexistence and Istanbul's urban context. The literature review seeks to identify context-specific social sustainability
attributes in urban spaces to enhance co-existence and conviviality among different groups. Thereafter, interviews withacademics and experts, community leaders and local residents. The interviews provided valuable insights andperspectives and helped understand the ongoing social dynamics within the studied communities. As for the quantitative
data collection, we employed g a questionnaire tool to acquire quantified data about the social indicators. The
questionnaire tool was adopted from Shirazi and Kevani (2022)* and modified to suit the study context and specificobjectives. Later, data analysis was conducted.
The beginning of the fieldwork was with the case studies selection first, an extensive literature review was conducted on
the formation of Istanbul and the different types of neighbourhoods, the second meeting with local researchers andurbanists took place, shortlisting the potential neighbourhoods, and finally, Transect walks for the final decision. The
study took place in two inner-city neighbourhoods in Istanbul and was chosen from the districts with a significant foreign
population, Balat and Rasimapsa. The research methodology combines a questionnaire tool and a series of interviews
during November and December 2022. The questionnaire was adopted from (Shirazi and Kevani, 2022) and modified tosuit this study's purpose and the study areas' context. It consisted of three sections: a brief introduction about theresearcher and the research topic, participant demographic information and questions about social sustainability

indicators. The questionnaire was collected either face-to-face or in pen-and-paper methods. Transect walks through theneighbourhood were performed before the data collection to gain familiarity with topography and community dynamics.
The research uses case study approach, adopting Istanbul as a model for a multiethnic megacity. For analysing the case,
The following table outlines the tasks undertaken for the research.
Table (I): research activities
Task
1
Document review
2
Developing a model for assessing social sustainability
3
Preparation for data collection
5
Field survey
6Interviews with the locals
7Interviews with experts
8
Mapping and spatial analysis
9On field observation
10 Data analysis
11 Results publication

Status
Done
Done
Done
Done
Done
Done
In progressDone
In progress
In progress

Conclusion/Observation（200 words）
The research represents a holistic view of social sustainability in urban neighbourhoods and offers
insights into the specific case of multiethnic and diverse communities. The research provides a broad
understanding of social sustainability in urban neighbourhoods and offers insights into ethnicallydiverse neighbourhoods. As for the present, the research findings revealed substantial differences among
the different groups in social networking and safety. Further, the qualitative findings indicated acommunication gap between the two groups, especially with newcomers and migrants. Despite theoverall friendly environment, cultural differences and the lack of deep-level communication can intensify
the gap between the groups and lead to limited and exclusive social networks. Overall, the study
highlights the differences in the experiences of the different groups. To overcome the gap and foster
cohesion among the different social groups, policymakers and urbanists are encouraged to promote
opportunities and channels of communication among the different social groups to overcome the negative
consequences of social fragmentation. For example, holding cultural events and workshops where people
from different cultures and backgrounds can meet and exchange experiences and ideas. Utilising theexisting events in Turkish culture to be a platform to promote neighbourliness. Also, having a place forsharing opinions about neighbourhood issues and problems gives residents of different backgrounds aplatform to find a solution collectively. These gatherings can promote empathy and cohesion in thecommunity.