Urban Geopolitics and the Protection of Istanbul’s Critical Infrastructures: A Participatory Urban Security Approach

Abstract

This study aims to identify Istanbul’s critical infrastructures and explore a participatory urban security approach to ensure their protection. By involving institutions linked to both central government and local authorities, as well as other stakeholders in the city, it is possible to establish an effective defense mechanism against potential threats to these structures. Combined with its economic significance, particularly in terms of industrial production, Istanbul’s strategic location within a national and international transportation network underscores the need to safeguard its critical infrastructure. This issue extends beyond local concerns and possesses an international security dimension. Because studies on critical infrastructures typically focus on cybersecurity, the limited existing literature on urban geopolitics highlights the significance of this research. The study utilizes document analysis to examine various sources, including books, journals, articles, reports, laws, regulations, and online resources relevant to the field. The findings indicate that involving all city stakeholders in the development of security policies for protecting critical infrastructures will enhance collaborative action. Additionally, the study reveals that national regulations on the security of critical infrastructures lack a comprehensive framework, that local authorities face limitations in their capabilities, and that local regulatory measures are insufficient. There is a pressing need to unite the public and local authorities and other stakeholders to address these issues effectively.

Keywords

• security
• istanbul
• participatory urban security
• critical infrastructures
• urban geopolitics