Infrastructural Commemorations: The Ground-Breaking Ceremony of the Third Bosphorus Bridge and the Endless “Conquest of Istanbul”

The ground-breaking ceremony of Istanbul’s Third Bosphorus Bridge took place on 29th May 2013. date chosen by the then Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, to launch construction this urban mega-project transformed inauguration into a commemoration 560th anniversary Ottoman Conquest Istanbul Fatih Sultan Mehmet. After explaining significance 1453 commemorations in Turkey, article, we argue that building mega-infrastructures, such as Bridge, has become occasion for Erdoğan (re)conquer city Istanbul, thus mirroring Mehmet more than five centuries ago. In end, “Conquest Festival” today is perhaps just celebration 15th century siege city, but instead diverted way nation commemorate - without necessarily ever acknowledging it openly ethnic and religious “purification” Turkey during 20th century.