Socio-political perspective on a neighborhood: The case of Van Hacibeki̇r Neighborhood

In the context of urban sociology, the neighborhood is not only a physical living space but also a social space where social relations are shaped and a sense of belonging is built. The neighborhood stands out as a structure where individuals live their daily lives, build a collective life around common values and reproduce certain socio-cultural norms. However, urbanization processes have transformed this unique structure of neighborhoods and deepened social inequalities, especially in areas where disadvantaged groups are concentrated. In this respect, it is important that neighborhood organizations of change and transformation are the subject of sociological studies. In particular, how disadvantaged neighborhoods are positioned in urban space and how stigmatization processes are reflected in the social structure offers an important area of discussion on the impact of the urbanization process on neighborhoods. This study, based on the example of Hacıbekir Neighborhood, contributes to an in-depth understanding of the relationship between urbanization and neighborhoods. This study examines the Hacıbekir neighborhood in the city center of Van within a socio-political framework. The main purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the location of Hacıbekir Neighborhood in the city on identity and the socio-cultural status of the neighborhood. Despite its proximity to the city center, Hacıbekir Neighborhood stands out as a stigmatized area in urban space due to its socio-economic and cultural context. Unlike other parts of the city, Hacıbekir Neighborhood is relatively heterogeneous in terms of ethnicity, culture and socio-economic status, which affects both social relations and the bonds that individuals living in the neighborhood establish with the city. In this study, in which qualitative research method was preferred, in-depth interviews were used as a data collection tool.