The strange case of earthquake risk mitigation in Istanbul

As an aspiring global city, Istanbul is at the crossroads of capital, political struggle, and socioeconomic transformation. Unfortunately, also major active fault lines. This paper analyzes earthquake risk mitigation planning for megacity since last big seismic catastrophe Marmara Earthquakes in 1999 that hit region, including Istanbul. We use concept riskscape to explore technocratic construction how this implies different experiences investment portfolios, state, ordinary people living city. Our empirical analyses focus on ‘Istanbul Seismic Risk Mitigation Emergency Preparedness Project’ (ISMEP), launched as a World Bank project 2005 still ongoing 2020. argue ISMEP epitomizes ‘strange case’ due its organizational complexity, financial expansion over lifetime, progression megaproject sponsored by international development funding despite contraction institutional targets. findings suggest centralized non-transparent approach creates fragmented megacity. The continues threaten millions inhabitants’ lives livelihoods while making room speculative real estate development.