São Paulo and İstanbul: Unraveling Urban Segregation Dynamics and Assessing the Role of Transpatial Groups in Shaping Urban Structure
Space Syntax, Transpatial Social Groups, Societal Dynamics, Urban Segregation.
Urban segregation, a multifaceted challenge that has left its mark on cities globally over the course of history, involves the spatial separation of individuals and social groups based on various identity elements. This division leads to significant disparities in access to resources and opportunities, creating a lasting impact that transcends generations. The dynamics of social and spatial segregation, intensified by competition and conflict, further exacerbate inequalities in urban environments, solidifying their permanence. The present study delves into the issue of urban segregation from a multidimensional perspective, aiming to contribute insights into its patterns, causes, and consequences. By employing both social and configurational indicators, the research seeks to provide a nuanced understanding that can guide policymakers and urban planners towards fostering inclusivity and reducing disparities in cities. The study is particularly interested in unraveling the mechanisms that reinforce social and spatial divisions, informing strategies for socio-spatial integration. The comparative approach taken by this research focuses on the São Paulo and Istanbul Metropolitan areas. Aligned with the principles of social conflict theory, the study places special emphasis on power dynamics, competition, and conflict as critical factors contributing to the unequal distribution of essential urban resources and socio-spatial segregation. Additionally, the study recognizes the overarching impact of globalization on conflicts between social groups, acknowledging that these conflicts often transcend national boundaries by creating globalsocial groupings. The primary objective of the investigation is to elucidate how global transpatial social groups influence social interactions and the intricate dynamics of urban environments. Simultaneously, the study conducts an in-depth analysis of the spatial distribution of these groups and examines its repercussions on the phenomenon of segregation. In pursuit of these overarching objectives, the research adopts a quantitative approach, focusing on two cities from the global south, Metropolitan São Paulo and Istanbul. The empirical inquiry begins with processes such as data collection, cleaning, and pre-processing, integrating statistical, configurational, and geographic data sources. The creation of a data set involves feature selection guided by correlation analysis, and segregation maps are generated for both cases using decision tree analysis. The data set is then divided into training and testing sets to develop a decision tree model, with hyper-parameters fine-tuned for accuracy. Metropolitan boundary data is utilized in the mapping process. Within the quantitative approach adopted for this research, the space syntax analysis is particularly emphasized as a powerful tool for understanding the spatial distribution of urban elements. The configurational analysis, combined with decision tree analysis, aims to unravel the intricate relationships between spatial features and social dynamics. By employing this approach, the study seeks to uncover how the configurations of street networks contribute to the perpetuation or alleviation of urban segregation. The study also incorporates correlation analysis to discern intricate relationships between the statistical and configurational data. To fortify the comparative framework, T-tests are employed to ascertain significant disparities between the cases under examination. Through these processes, the research endeavors to provide insights instrumental in shaping and enhancing urban planning strategies. Moreover, it seeks to recommend the exploration of future research avenues, expanding the corpus of knowledge related to the intricate dynamics of social conflict, competition, urban segregation, and their interplay with the configurations of street networks.