Urban political places in the narrators of actors that provide public service: The case of Gazi district

This thesis aimed to comprehend urban political spaces through the narratives of public service actors. Furthermore, it revealed the unique features of public services in these places. As one of the most characteristic samples of urban political spaces in Turkey, Gazi District was selected as the study area. Administrative borders were not taken into consideration in this preference, and the sample was formed from government officials serving in the province where social mobility is intense. Within the context of the study, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 64 officials providing public service to Gazi District. Detailed qualitative analyses were carried out based on the participants' statements. The results obtained as a result of the study can be summarized as follows: The negative image of Gazi District created through mass media prompts newly appointed public officials to develop various prejudices. However, as public officials build up their communication with the community, the favourable opinions toward Gazi District come to the fore and the majority wishes to hold their current posts in the district. The worldviews of public officials and whether they reside in the district are the main factors that shape their perceptions of the district. In particular, the teachers generally reside in the district and have an opposing ideology, so they continue their duties with positive perceptions towards the Gazi District. On the other hand, it has been observed that the police and municipal employees generally act with a statist world view and continue their duties with negative perceptions about the Gazi District. The general opinion of public officials is that providing public service in Gazi District has a quite different nature and is much more difficult than providing public services in other parts of the city. Nevertheless, one of the most significant findings of the study suggests that the political identity of the Gazi District is in the process of weakening.