ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses how municipalism, the government of cities and districts, is practiced on a daily basis and how actors conceptualise and experience it as part of their everyday. It presents a history of relevant developments in municipal and national politics since 1984, the year of the introduction of metropolitan municipalities. The chapter looks at the mayors, the most influential actors in municipal politics in Turkey, and the conditions of their pre-candidature and election. It presents an overview of the legal development of municipalism in Turkey. The chapter examines municipal practice and the main 'municipal philosophies' of conservative and social municipalism. It shows how service and welfare delivery are important aspects of the culture of everyday politics as they establish contact between municipalities and citizens. The chapter focuses on municipal 'meaning making' by means of cultural activities organised by municipalities alone or in cooperation with civil society organisations (CSOs).
