Publice relations activities of political parties end slums (The case of İstanbul- Ümraniye )

Squattering has become a major problem in Turkey especially sincethe 1950s. It is not only a problem confined to urbanization, construction,environmental development and outlook in metropoles, but it has alsoinfluenced the lives of people who emigrated to such cities. The life styles inthese cities have produced subcultures. This case is not unique to Turkeyand appears in all countries, especially in cities which have a potential foreconomical development.Squattering in Turkey appears in the cities where industry develops.But squattering in Ankara and Istanbul does not only influence suburbs butalso seems to shape the whole city life. Squattering in Turkey (particularly inmetropoles) decelerated after the economical crisis of 2000 and almosthalted after the change in laws passed in 2004. This change showed itselfalso in the cultural sphere, and differences between villager and city dwellerand between suburban and downtowner disappeared in terms of benefittingfrom education and common facilities of city.This thesis has taken Ümraniye as the case study and it seems thatthis district has emerged as a shacktown in its real sense and fourneighborhoods of the district are still experiencing the conditions of being ashacktown. Although squattering seems to have stopped there due tointolerance to new constructions, they are closed to modernization. After therecent legal arrangements, it is expected that these areas will be taken intomodern city life after legal arrangements are made, and consequently theterm squattering will be past.Political parties consider squattering areas as a repository of votesbecause voters in such areas are regarded as an easy target to manipulateby the parties. Accordingly it is clear that PR activities in these areas mostlyconsist of propaganda. Yet, local people seem to be happy with the fact thatthey are taken into consideration by political parties. As seen in this study,Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Ümraniye Municipality try to make andapply projects in order to rehabilitate the such areas and improve lifestandards of their habitants.KEY WORDS1- PR (Public Relations)2- Local administrations3- Culture4- Political parties5- Shacktown