The Factors Which Distinguish Istanbul from the Rest of Islam Cities - Case Study Example

Introduction Metropolitan cities around the globe have developed a lot during the second half of twentieth centuries. There are a number of factors such as facilities, educational standards, economic viability, cultural heritage, historical importance, geographical location etc. which signify a city’s importance in the modern world. Unfortunately, most of the cities in the Islamic World do not meet the prerequisites to be considered modern cities of the world. The lack of certain essentials in cities across Islamic world creates a misconception that all Islamic cities are backward and do no foster a twenty first century modern, liberal and progressive face. Istanbul is a charming exception among those Islam cities. It is a city rich in culture, heritage and history just like many other Islamic cities but which -unlike those cities- also represents the trends of twenty first century world. It is a blend of modern and oriental as well as liberal and orthodox. In this paper we will have a look at the city of Istanbul, its position in today’s modern world and its brief history. We will, then, look to identify the factors which distinguish Istanbul from the rest of Islam cities. In the process we will also look to highlight the strengths of the city. Twenty First Century Istanbul Istanbul is located at 41.09 north, 29.42 east on the globe. It is the western most city of Asia and the eastern most city of Europe at the same time. Istanbul has a population of more than 13 million people making it the biggest city of Turkey and one of the biggest cities in the world. This population is still on the rise because of continues migration from rest of Turkey. The fall of Ottoman Empire and rise of secular Turkey has changed the socio-cultural dynamics of the city a lot without damaging the eastern heritage. Today’s Istanbul represents the modern face of Turkey, its secularism and progression in the last fifty years while still holding dear the ancient glories of the land. What highlights Istanbul against other Islam Cities in World? There is no other city in the world except Istanbul which is an Islam city and a western city at the same time. In the following pages we will see what makes Istanbul such a unique city among the cities of Islam. The major factors in this regard are as follows: 1. Historical Importance of Istanbul Istanbul has a rich history spanning almost 2000 years. It has been the capital of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire under different names such as Constantinople, Byzantium and Istanbul. During these eras it has been ruled by both Christians and Muslims which gives the city a marvelous blend of cultural heritage from both civilizations. This richness of civilization has enabled Istanbul to be declared the Joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. It is also a cherished part of UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985. (Batur, Uner and Odasi, 2006, P-27) There are very few cities in the Islamic world which has such old historical standing and even those which have rich backgrounds do not have the diversified nature of historical significance which Istanbul has. 2. Secularism at Heart of City Most of the countries with Muslim majority clearly specify themselves as Islamic Republics. They have religious symbol attached with their being and the same is reflected in their cities and cultural hubs. Turkey has emerged as a secular state among those countries with a Muslim majority. This salient characteristic of Turkey is most visible in Istanbul. Although, the majority of city is Muslim but that does not detract it from being a modern world city. One can find mosques and churches right next to each other. People respect each other’s religious beliefs and believe in unity in diversity. On the other hand, one can find night clubs and discos in the city centre as well. Men and women alike wear modern western dresses and there is gender equality. (Ember and Ember, 2002, P-404) Such liberal atmosphere is almost non-prevalent in most radical Islamic states. 3. Bridge between West and East There is no other country in the world which could provide as strong a bridge between west and east as Istanbul. There are two major reasons of that. One is the fact that it is at the same time a modern secular metropolitan city and a Muslim majority city with centuries old eastern traditions and beliefs. The second factor is its strategically important geography. The city’s western part is in Europe and the eastern part is in Asia, making it the only city in the world which is located in two continents. When we consider the fact that there is no Muslim majority country in Europe then the importance of Turkey and especially Istanbul with regard to such geography becomes even clearer. Istanbul is a place where two continents with diverse histories, languages, cultures, religions and values meet each other with harmony and balance. There is no other country in the world let alone the Islamic world which could foster such dialogue among civilizations. 4. Educational Standard of Istanbul The literacy level in Islamic world is so poor that when we talk about Islamic countries no one expects us to name any notable educational institutions. Istanbul comes as a happy surprise in this regard. The city has a literacy rate of 93% with hundreds of schools and colleges. It also has 26 universities imparting education out of which 8 are Public universities and 18 are Private universities. No other city in the Muslim world comes even closer to these staggering figures. An important factor in this educationally rich culture is the co-education system in Turkey. There are many Muslim countries where girls are not encouraged to study with their men counterparts and thus end up studying in an isolated atmosphere. This liberal attitude is also followed in establishing the educational institutes which impart education in all major fields of study particularly in university education special emphasis is given to scientific studies and research. 5. Financial Status of Istanbul Istanbul is a major financial centre of both western Asia and Eastern Europe. It provides more than 23% of Turkey’s Gross National Product (GNP), over 33% of its banking deposits and over 41% of its tax collection. More than half of Turkey’s imports and exports are Istanbul based. The city also has as many as 4 free trade zones. The residents of Istanbul also depict a picture of prosperity and economic strength. Majority owns their own houses and can afford above average lifestyles. Only New York, London and Moscow have more billionaires in the whole world than Istanbul. All these features make it one of the frontrunners in world economy, a standard very few Islamic cities around the globe can challenge. 6. Transportation Hub The city of Istanbul is one of the most easily accessible cities in the world. It is located in the centre of modern world and boosts state of the art transportation facilities for both domestic and international travel and trade. Turkey was always considered to be a gateway for Europe and now Istanbul has attained the status of the major regional transportation hub. (Hunter, Shireen, 2004, P-66) In 2008, every fifth person in Istanbul had a personal car to travel. There is a huge domestic road network which consists of 25,000 kilometers of roads. There are thousands of public busses, a huge network of taxis and a local tram system to support city traffic system as well. High standard facilities are also available for international travel and trade. There are two international airports, one on the European side and the other on the Asian side. There is one private and several Army airports as well. For road travelers, there are two recently constructed motorways along with the two existing express ways. The city is surrounded by sea and also has a very viable port for both travel and trade purposes. All this is supported by a train system which not only runs across the country but also connects Istanbul with major European cities making it possible to reach cities like London and Paris through rail travel. No other city in the Islamic world works as a bridge between Europe and Asia like Istanbul. Istanbul stands high for bridging the gap in this regards as well. 7. Cultural Richness There are many cities in the Islamic world which reflect great culture and heritage but most of those share a particular brand of culture i.e. The Islamic culture and heritage. Istanbul is very different in this regard. It has a cultural history of many civilizations coming from different races, ages and religions. The preservation of all those cultures has given it the diversity no other city in Islamic countries can come closer to. On the one hand, there are centuries old mosques and churches and on the other hand one can find night clubs in up-town Istanbul as well. The city exhibits a variety of cultural activities. There are numerous hotels and restaurants catering the needs of all segments of society. The city has big shopping malls, metros, recreational spots and theatres. There are sports complexes and performing art festivals as well. Such diversified cultural heritage makes Istanbul a modern city comparable with any western city around the globe. 8. Strong Local Government System While the majority of Muslim countries in the world are struggling to have a democratic system even at the state level, Turkey represents a very viable local government system. Each district has its own elected Mayor. Istanbul, being the biggest city of Turkey, also has a local government run by its Mayor. The most recent elections for Istanbul Mayor were held in March 2009. This idea of delegating administrative powers to the cities and let them run their own affairs is a new and highly modern one. Most of the western world has adapted this model but when we come across the major Islam cities in the world we come to know that very few of them has such a system and even those who do have such systems are subject to regular hick-ups. Muslim cities will have much to learn if they adapt the Turkish local government model. 9. Strong health Care facilities Muslim cities are also not known to be the best for health and sanitation purposes. The basic health facilities are minimal even in some of the biggest Muslim cities combined with lack of proper drinking water, lack of cleanliness and shortage of hospitals and paramedical staff. This is not the case with Istanbul. The city has more than 60 public and over 100 state of the art private hospitals along with a very good paramedical staff. Basic health and sanitation facilities are also comparable with any modern European or American city. In recent times the government of Turkey has taken initiative to guide certain other countries such as Pakistan to develop their local infrastructure based upon Istanbul model. 10. Sister City of 56 World Cities Most cities in Islamic World are not considered to be comparable with modern cities of the world. Istanbul is an exception though. The city has been given sister-city status by 56 different cities of the world from 5 continents of the globe. Istanbul is a sister city of 23 European, 22 Asian, 7 Americans and 4 African cities. These cities include all kinds of cities from London to Kabul and from Houston to Khartoum. Such wide scale acceptance and liking of a city clearly signify the importance of that in the world and the love and affection it receives from people all across the world. Conclusion Istanbul is one of the most modern, developed and progressive cities in the Islamic world. There are certain other very modern cities on Islamic map such as Kuala Lumpur but Istanbul’s location and historical richness adds to its importance. It is a city where cultures, civilizations and values meet, intermingle and develop into a twenty first century life-style. Istanbul is not only a meeting point for these cultures but also holds the potential to lead the cultural development of twenty first century by providing a base-model for co-existence among contrasting people. Such human augmentation is not only the need of the hour but also the beacon of hope for the ever so radicalizing world. Work Cited Batur, Uner and Odasi, Architectural Guide to Istanbul: Historic Peninsula, (2006), Page 27 Ember and Ember, Encyclopedia of Urban Cultures: Cities and Cultures Around the World, (2002), Page 404 Hunter, Shireen, Strategic Developments in Eurasia after 11 September, (2004), Page 66 Read More