Potentıals And Lımıtatıons Of Socıal Area Analysıs: The Case of Bağcılar Dıstrıct, Istanbul

Abstract

This paper explores the interplay between social differentiation and urban space in Istanbul’s Bağcılar district, utilizing Social Area Analysis (SAA) to examine micro-level urban dynamics. Initial research involved a literature and META-Analysis on SAA, introduced by Shevky and Bell (1955) and evolved through advanced quantitative methods by Ostendorf and Musterd (2012). This study integrates macro-level perspectives, analyzing economic changes, socio cultural shifts, and government policies from 1923 to present. These dimensions are essential for understanding the spatial and social transformations in Istanbul. The micro-level analysis employs SAA components such as social rank, urbanism, and social differentiation, with data derived from the Turkish Statistical Institute and the Household Survey of Istanbul Transportation Planning. The analysis highlights how Bağcılar’s rapid growth since the 1950s, fueled by rural migration and industrial development, has led to profound socio-economic changes. The findings will be contextualized within Bağcılar’s specific characteristics illustrating the district's unique urban development and its implications for social stratification