Limbo state of consent and Kanal İstanbul :|a comparative and affective analysis of two mega-projects

Abstract

This thesis presents the relationality between affects and hegemony and the importance of affects in social and political life. Affective and discursive practices might affect consent for hegemony and hegemony can use affects and construct identities in turn. Mega projects are very efficient in constructing consent and hegemony. Kanal İstanbul; the last mega project is used as the platform to study this relationality. In-depth interviews with the dwellers of Başakşehir and Arnavutköy which are in Kanal İstanbul area are made to capture the emotions and thoughts of the dwellers for the project. To get a solid idea another mega project which is already finished and being used by the dwellers; Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge is also asked in the interviews to compare the differences and similarities in the ideas and emotions of the dwellers. What we have observed is that in transitional periods, affects and consent are also affected and divergences, breaks as well as limbo situations might appear. This thesis shows that affects and consent are changing in times of transformation. Positive affects like pride, joy and happiness can coexist with consent while negative feelings like anxiety, fear of abandonment from the in-born environment might cause to dissent or limbo situations.