ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a critical evaluation of urban governance. On the other hand, the extensive literature on urban governance shows that it is not a newly emerging issue but it is very obvious that its context has changed in the last three decades. The changing government structure in Turkey and urban governance practices in Istanbul are subject to review. Istanbul correspondingly is considered as an example against which to test the relevance of generally accepted characteristics of urban governance. In the following years changes in the government structure of Turkey also went into effect in Istanbul. Urban governance in Istanbul is closely related to the election periods, especially in the last three decades, and the urban governance system is reflected in the large-scale urban projects. In one such project the aim is to analysis of the Istanbul Metropolitan Area and calculates the transformation potential of the city within the framework of planning Istanbul's future.
