Populist construction of public space: Yenikapi fill area

In the study, the politics of public space of the political powers that constitute the representations of the people are discussed. For this reason, the study included the public visuality of the built environment, along with the plans and designs included in the physical construction of the Yenikapı Fill Area, and included the identification of the public space with discourse and actions. In this context, it is explained how the AK Party and CHP local political powers affect the public space in Istanbul, accompanied by public space discussions. At this point, mediated discourse analysis was used in the research by applying the qualitative research method. Many printed sources, videos and media organs that provide visibility regarding the filled area were scanned by centered on the space, besides, documents on the construction of the filled area were obtained from the relevant institutions, parliamentary official report were accessed and one-to-one interviews were held. In the study; many areas of discourse and action regarding the public space in terms of cultural and identity have been determined. During the AK Party and CHP period of Yenikapı Fill Area; While it was expected to create an area of visibility for the political actions and discourses of the people of the city, it was seen that the area could not respond to this. For this reason, it has been argued that the fill area emerged as an artificial and inert public space, a public space based on power, and that the people acted on this public space together with the political power. Also, the political similarities and differences of the public space in these two periods were also revealed. As a result of these, the effects of right and left populist politics on the public space were evaluated, and positive and negative criticisms about the development of left populist public space opportunities were included.