The purpose of this master&rsquo / s thesis is to evaluate the performance of investment companies, namely Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Closed-End Funds (CEFs) in Turkey. In this study, three different models are used to evaluate the risk adjusted performances of Turkish investment companies. These models are: 1) the single-factor CAPM / 2) the Fama-French three-factor model / and 3) the Carhart&rsquo / s four factor model. The results of this study indicate that for the sample period from January 1997 to December 2009, Turkish REITs and Turkish CEFs neither overperform nor underperform the overall market. Intercepts in almost all models are statistically significantly not different from zero, implying that both REITs and CEFs are earning their expected returns. The results are robust to different models used in this study. Among employed models, the Fama-French three-factor model is the best in explaining the returns on both REITs and CEFs. In general, coefficients of the size and the book-to-market equity risk factors are significant and positive. The explanatory power of the regressions does not improve with the Carhart&rsquo / s four-factor model, since momentum factors have statistically insignificant coefficients in all regressions. Findings of this study have an important implication for the efficiency of the Istanbul Stock Exchange. The inability of professional money managers to beat the overall market could be taken as an evidence in favor of the ISE being either semi-strong or strong form efficient. On the other hand, lack of skills on the part of Turkish fund managers might be another explanation for their inability to surpass the performance of the overall market.

Over the past decade, fuzzy systems have gained remarkable acceptance in many fields including control and automation, pattern recognition, medical diagnosis and forecasting. The fuzzy system application has also been accepted as a promising approach to dealing with uncertainty in real estate valuation analysis. This is mainly due to the necessity of coping with a large number of qualitative and quantitative variables that affect the value of a real property. The appraisers use a great deal of judgment to identify both the characteristics that contribute to property values and the relationships among these characteristics in order to derive estimates of market values. This thesis uses the two widely-used fuzzy rule-based systems / namely the Mamdani and Takagi- Sugeno-Kang (TSK) type fuzzy models in an attempt to examine the main determinants of office rents in Istanbul Central Business District (CBD). The input variables of the fuzzy rule-based systems (FRBS) comprise: i) physical attributes of office spaces and office buildings, ii) lease contract terms, and iii) tenants&rsquo / perception of the office rent determinants, tenants&rsquo / location of residence, tenants&rsquo / transportation modes, etc and as the output the system proposes the office property&rsquo / s rental price. Obtaining office rent determinants is a significant issue for both practitioners and academics. While,practitioners use them directly in demand and sensitivity analyses, academics are more interested in the relative significance of these variables and their effect on the variation in office rent to forecast market behavior. Our data set includes a detailed survey of 500 office spaces located in Istanbul CBD. We have carried out two Mamdani-type FRBS and two TSK-type FRBS for the office space and office building data sets. In these FRBS analyses, firstly the so-called representative office spaces are determined, then the average office space rents are estimated. Finally, the spatial variation in the average office rents across the CBD sub-districts, along with the Office space rent variations with respect to different clusters, like number of workers, number of floors and so on, have been analyzed. We believe that presenting the spatial variation in office rents will make a noteworthy contribution both to the real estate investors and appraisers interested in Istanbul office market.

Im Mai 2013 begannen in Istanbul die größten, spontan organisierten zivilgesellschaftlichen Proteste in der Geschichte der Türkei. Die Besetzung des Gezi-Parks im Zentrum von Istanbul und das Vorgehen der Polizei mit massivem Einsatz von Tränengas und Wasserwerfern hatten sehr schnell zu einer breiten Solidarisierungswelle im gesamten Land geführt. Eine der dortigen Protestaktionen wird zum Ausgangspunkt, um die Verschränkung von politischen und performativen Interventionen zu diskutieren. Um diese Aspekte zu beleuchten, werden die Artikulationsformate im Rahmen der Proteste in Bezug zum Projekt „re.act.feminism #2 – a performing archive“ gesetzt.

Natural hazards are the reality of today&amp / #8217 / s world, which considerably affect people&amp / #8217 / s living conditions. As they cannot be prevented, the basic precautions should be taken before the occurrence to protect people. At this point, the preparedness for any threat is really important, which does decrease destructive effects of the hazard for communities and shorten recovery interventions. In terms of preparedness, identification of vulnerable people in the community gives an important contribution for better planning in disaster management. In this respect, this thesis aims to develop a methodology in order to define vulnerable groups in terms of their social conditions for any possible hazard, with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Moreover, the thesis aims to find out an interrelation between hazards and vulnerability, to build awareness about identification of socially vulnerable groups in the pre- and post-disaster planning. A case study area is selected in earthquake-prone Pendik, Istanbul, in order to find the contribution of the assessment. A study is carried out to describe social vulnerability levels in the study area using GIS. Criterion standardization, weighting and combining are accomplished by multi criteria evaluation methods. These calculations are supported with five explorative spatial data analyses to understand global trends and spatial interactions of the study data. The objectivity of the assessment and the complicated structure of the study data are also discussed. The main outcomes of the methodology and its applications in the case study area show that, the southeast part of Pendik is socially vulnerable to any possible hazard.

The occurrence of two recent major earthquakes, 17 August 1999 Mw = 7.4 Izmit and 12 November 1999 Mw = 7.1 D&uuml / zce, in Turkey prompted seismologists and geologists to conduct studies to predict magnitude and location of a potential earthquake that can cause substantial damage in Istanbul. Many scenarios are available about the extent and size of the earthquake. Moreover, studies have recommended rough estimates of risk areas throughout the city to trigger responsible authorities to take precautions to reduce the casualties and loss for the earthquake expected. Most of these studies, however, adopt available procedure by modifying them for the building stock peculiar to Turkey. The assumptions and modifications made are too crude and thus are believed to introduce significant deviations from the actual case. To minimize these errors and use specific damage functions and capacity curves that reflect the practice in Turkey, a study was undertaken to predict damage pattern and distribution in Istanbul for a scenario earthquake proposed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The success of these studies strongly depends on the quality and validity of building inventory and site property data. Building damage functions and capacity curves developed from the studies conducted in Middle East Technical University are used. A number of proper attenuation relations are employed. The study focuses mainly on developing a software to carry out all computations and present results. The results of this study reveal a more reliable picture of the physical seismic damage distribution expected in Istanbul.

Cette recherche s’interroge sur la manifestation du nationalisme, en tant qu’idéologie politique, dans les espaces publics, surtout dans un contexte où l'État, le gouvernement et les partis politiques sont des entités imbriquées. Il est soutenu qu’un parti politique peut promouvoir une idéologie nationale dans sa construction des espaces publics. Grâce à une étude de trois projets de construction promus par l’AKP depuis son arrivée au pouvoir en Turquie en 2002, c’est-à-dire le Musée Panorama 1453, le pont Yavuz Selim Sultan et la mosquée de Çamlıca, l’analyse soutient la construction d’une idéologie néo-ottomane. Si cette idéologie ne rompt pas complètement de l’identité turque comme distincte du monde arabe, elle diverge néanmoins du sécularisme kémaliste promu lors de la première République. L’idéologie hégémonique turque promouvoit désormais une plus grande emphase sur le passé ottoman, sur la visibilité de la religion islamique dans les espaces publics et un retour en force d’Istanbul, l’ancienne capitale ottomane. Pour parvenir à cette conclusion suite à un court séjour de terrain, des photographies ont été prises afin d’illustrer le propos. S’il s’avère que tous les espaces ne sont pas égaux en matière de symbolisme, aucun des espaces étudiés ne s’est avéré neutre de sens. / This research focuses on the manifestation of nationalism, as political ideology, in public spaces. It is argued that a political party can promote a national ideology in its construction of public spaces, especially in a context where state, government and political are intertwined entities. Thanks to a study of three construction projects promoted by the AKP since it came to power in Turkey in 2002, ie the Panorama 1453 Museum, the Yavuz Selim Sultan Bridge and the Çamlıca Mosque, the analysis supports the construction of a neo-Ottoman ideology. If this ideology does not completely break with the paradigm of a Turkish identity as distinct from the Arab world, it nevertheless diverges from the Kemalist secularism promoted during the first Republic. Turkish hegemonic ideology now promotes a greater emphasis on the Ottoman past, on the visibility of the Islamic religion in public spaces and a favouritism of Istanbul, the former Ottoman capital. To reach this conclusion following a short field trip, photographs were taken to illustrate the subject. If it turns out that not all spaces are equal in terms of symbolism, none of the spaces studied has turned out to be meaningless.

This paper describes textile production in Istanbul, Turkey. From its historical background to the challenges of today. The respondents have told about how they work, talked about competition, communication, achievements, investments and much more. The purpose was basically to find out how important the textile industry, with focus on apparel, is in the economy of Turkey today. Also how this industry can develop, and what it will take to reach such development. The empirical material comes from experienced people in the field and is analyzed with the SWOT model besides other marketing and logistics related theory. Used method is a qualitative approach with semi structural interviews. Companies and associations in Istanbul have responded. These contributors are a mix of senior managers, specialists, officials, employees and entrepreneurs. An interview guide was developed after a pre-study in Sweden. Findings of the study shows that these companies are competing for international customers, but also working together for their industry and country. Some important factors to become successful is experience, research, innovation and customer care. To take a step of further development, more strategy, competence and investments might be needed. There are many other countries which can also challenge about the customers in this business. China and Bangladesh do have similarities with the early development of Turkey in the case of textile garment industry, but are now considered different as competitors. Turkey do have some national advantages, and not least its beneficial geographical position.

This paper describes textile production in Istanbul, Turkey. From its historical background to the challenges of today. The respondents have told about how they work, talked about competition, communication, achievements, investments and much more. The purpose was basically to find out how important the textile industry, with focus on apparel, is in the economy of Turkey today. Also how this industry can develop, and what it will take to reach such development. The empirical material comes from experienced people in the field and is analyzed with the SWOT model besides other marketing and logistics related theory. Used method is a qualitative approach with semi structural interviews. Companies and associations in Istanbul have responded. These contributors are a mix of senior managers, specialists, officials, employees and entrepreneurs. An interview guide was developed after a pre-study in Sweden. Findings of the study shows that these companies are competing for international customers, but also working together for their industry and country. Some important factors to become successful is experience, research, innovation and customer care. To take a step of further development, more strategy, competence and investments might be needed. There are many other countries which can also challenge about the customers in this business. China and Bangladesh do have similarities with the early development of Turkey in the case of textile garment industry, but are now considered different as competitors. Turkey do have some national advantages, and not least its beneficial geographical position.

This essay intends to interpret the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (CETS No. 210) using discourse analysis and theories of the sexual contract (Pateman 1988) and the male protective logic (Young 2003). The purpose is to find out which feminist discourses can be made visible in the convention, which subject positions are constructed within the framework of those discourses and how re- sponsibilities are distributed in contemporary policy documents. In summary the results show that the central subject positions within the convention consist of the protector, the victim and the perpetrator, which in turn include the majority of underlying subjects that both overlap each other and sometimes oppose each other's positions. The same subject who holds the po- sition of protector can also be the perpetrator and in this paradox are found, among others, the state and the violent man. A feminist discourse that underlies the convention's presentation is that unequal structures between binary gender categories, which is described as a fundamental problem when it comes to violence against women. Pointing out these structures risks of re- producing stereotypical notions of women and men as generalizable groups, but the convention also contributes through these representations to an international recognition of patriarchal structures and to shift the problem of men's violence against women and domestic violence from being a private matter to a problem for which the state should take responsibility.

The urban transformation shows its effects world wide, and changes spatial and social conditions of cities, but Turkey faces the worst outcomes of this planning system. In every city, urban transformation projects mainly improve the life conditions of upper classes , albeit we can notice some practices focusing on low classes, as well.However in Turkey, the urban transformation projects not only lacks any democratic, participative or social, goals; but also tries to gain the most possible profit for the private sector. As a result, , we see urban social movements protesting this uninclusive planning system in Turkey, especially in Istanbul.Since urban transformation projects in Turkey mainly focus on the areas that experience the property or neighborhood issues, the ghetto affected the moost by these projects. Taken into account that ghetto inhabitants are experienced with urban social protests life-long; the most powerful disapproval against the urban transformation projects are observed in these kinds of neighborhoods.Ghetto inhabitants describe urban transformation projects as “non participative”, “non focused on inhabitants” and they oppose against them in two different ways, informal or juridical. These movements become more and more visible in urban Istanbul.In this context, the aim of this study is to analyze the urban social movements in Istanbul raised against the urban transformation. Although the opposing groups are composed of many nongovernmental organizations, university students, academics, international organizations, I rather focus on residents who are influenced directly by these projects and concentrate on organized societal movements of the city inhabitants. Briefly, the ghetto inhabitants are the research object of this dissertation.During my study, I addressed some questions such as “Who are against the urban transformation?, Why are they against it?, What are the aims of opponents?, How can they oppose? , What do they do to institutionalize their opposition in neighborhoods?” and exposed the features of anti – urban transformation behaviors in slums in İstanbul. While answering these questions, I posed some hypotheses and try to prove them:-The slum residents opposing urban transformation have been trying to protect their lifestyle. - The residents cannot be called as conservatives, since they are open to new ideas and to work with other groups.-They tend to form neighborhood associations and become organized under one roof.So in slums, there have been seen a common attitude, which can be described as not constant, not having a particular leader, dominant ideology, or coordination . This study aims to analyze this new behavior, which is against urban decisions.But as Castells says: “While researching the movements against the urban planning systems, considering them only as some consumer reactions is not enough. We also have to analyze the relation between social contradictions and their movements’ aim.” So, we can say that in this dissertation, movements against urban planning system will be investigated by correlating their social conditions and aims. Urban social movement will be examined through Istanbul. Choosing Istanbul has some several important reasons. First of all, Istanbul is a strategic hub, which has been among major global cities, and bears the characteristics of global cities. Locally and internationally it should be described as a sign post for capital hosts, attracting the attention of fund groups.Istanbul is the city, where migrants try to survive or habitants who were pushed out of capitalist system because of their ethnic origin, religion or sect. They can only riddance by their social network or standing together.İstanbul stands out with these characteristiscs, which make the community more ‘free’ but on the other hand, ‘conflicted. The fact that Istanbul possesses both the government constraint and the counterview makes it one of the most convenient cities for the study. The general info, which was obtained from all of the ghettos in İstanbul, ends with concurrentdetailed research in Kazımkarabekir district in Sarıyer .The reasons to choose Kazımkarabekir can be listed as follows:-The district, which is composed of many ethnic groups, has their own associations-The relationships in the neighbourhood are very strong.-Socialist groups are replaced with ideological groups -District is located on the sea side of Sarıyer, which is one of the attractions of high-income group.-Although there have not seen any ongoing urban plans around the quarters of Kazımkarabekir , experiences gained from other ghettos made , the district community alert and already rised an opposition against urban transformation.This dissertation comprised of three mains chapters. Our first chapter includes an historical context about Turkish planning systems, second is about the urban social movement especially against the planning decisions and the final chapter produces our research results about Kazımkarabekir neighborhood making a synthesis with the previous two chapters. In the first chapter, primarily emphasize on Turkey urbanization, describing it informal and analyzing in 4 periods. First period of urbanization, is a result of the formation of nation-state; and this is an important part of modernization of Turkey. Second period begins after the Second World War, and indicates the beginning of the neo-liberalization of the state. Third is the fastest urbanization period of Turkey, in this period we appear a huge increase on urban rents. In that the final period of the urbanization beginning in the late 90’. This period changes all the urban areas and social structures. Regeneration and transformation projects cause the gentrification.The second chapter of study focuses on the sharp shift of informal urbanization process to a capital based urban regeneration. Our new urbanization practice, which is not unique or integral, is now embodied by the value of change. That new urbanization practice had a great reaction of the inhabitants, occasionally demonstrated by serious protests, trials and petitions as well. Even there are several arguments rising from disagreed groups, they present a distinctive overlapping on inequity, the lack of public participation and injustice debates. In respect to this, first of all, the second section theoretically argued the social and urban movement. This debate aimed to reveal how class struggles of a society are turned into urban public movements. Afterwards, similar protests against public interferences of different societies from all over the world are examined by aiming to find the common characteristics of the acts. Lastly, determinations about ghetto neighborhoods’ historical experiments of urban actions and current appearance of Istanbul are taken into consideration. The section includes a table of the group of actors against urban regeneration that followed by the comments about the ghetto neighborhoods’ actions. In addition to the various of arguments about urban regeneration, there are various of contrary acts. It should be admitted that the struggle of ghetto neighborhoods are intended on the right of conserving the housing and the way of life.In this regard, commitment to the neighborhood, having good affairs with the neighbors, countrymen networks and promises of the urban municipality are the important factors that affect the power of the resistance. The character of the campaign can be determined by the other effective factors, such as ethnical and religious balance, political view and the activities of the dominant political groups within the neighborhood. The third chapter that consists of three sections focuses on the field study of the Kazimkarabekir neighborhood. In the first section, the physical and social characteristics are detailed. Especially, investments in the neighborhood within the last 10 years targeting high income leveled residents and the factory shut downs are listed. On the other hand, planning process is checked and the neighborhood relevant plans are examined.In the second section, resistance movement and its historical basis are examined; social solidarity networks and demand based movements are presented. Thus, the way of the inhabitants ‘neighborhood’ perceptions, such as political view, ethnical identity or generation difference, are defined. In the last section, inner dynamics and public relations of the neighborhood union are examined. The opinion of the local habitants about the union and the institutionalization of the movement are stated.Nonetheless, according to different perceptions of neighborhoods, political views or ethnical relations and generation contrasts, manners of claiming neighborhood has marked. At the last chapter, internal and external relationships of neighborhood association is studied, as well as the thoughts of the neighborhood inhabitants about the association and the institutionalization of the formation has been emphasized. In conclusion, it would not be wrong to say the activity in slum areas is related with the previous slum movements or maybe continuation of them. However the new- slum movement is being shaped, in a way that inhabitants utter their demands freely, concerning about environmental, cultural issues or other neighborhoods. It is difficult to say a movement which contains plenty of different communities has a strong organization structure. Still, one of the features of the slum movement is, in an urgent case, whichever political view people support or whatever ethnical identity they belong, people take part in that movement.