A book launch event was organized on Tuesday, February 18, for the new book "From the Search for Infinity to Commodification: Threats and Potentials For Islamic Cities" by Prof. Alev Erkilet, a faculty member of the Sociology Department at Ibn Haldun University. The event took place at 3:00 PM in the Sociology Meeting Room (ITBF 2.22) and focused on the book's core themes, including the transformation of Islamic cities, their spatial organization, and modernization processes.
The study addresses the contradictions between the traditional values of Islamic urbanism and the commodification process brought about by modern urbanization. Prof. Erkilet based her study on field data analyzed in her book "Listening to the City (Kenti Dinlemek)" and interviews conducted on the urban transformation process in Istanbul's Historic Peninsula.
The study evaluates social structures, architectural organization, and social interactions in Islamic cities through Sorokin’s three-dimensional cultural model (ideational, behavioral, and material). Within this framework, topics such as the reflections of the principle of Tawhid in urban planning, the distinct nature of private property in Islamic cities compared to the West, and the spatial arrangements that serve as a reminder of death in urban design were examined. The book also provides a detailed analysis of differences between Western and Islamic cities in terms of property ownership, spatial organization, and the crystallization of religious symbols.
Prof. Erkilet emphasizes that Islamic cities have historically been inclusive and flexible in terms of social class distinctions, with private property being regulated not as an absolute right but in accordance with social benefit. She highlights that negotiation culture played a key role in shaping cities through social contracts, enabling different social groups to coexist. Furthermore, the book extensively discusses the presence of cemeteries within neighborhoods, the role of mosques in fostering social interaction, and the spatial designs of cities that serve as a reminder of mortality in Islamic urbanism.
