Sanne Ursem (2013)
The topic of the research I conducted while at the NIT was the Gezi Park protests. Initially, I applied for a grant to investigate the processes of ‘selfing’ in a glocalized urban context through the lens of food consumption in the neighborhood of Cihangir. However, when the protests started I redirected my topic. During the protests I spoke with several participants, all with different motives to protest. Here, an interesting phenomenon of fission and fusion- packed with ritualized practices- could be observed.
My stay at the NIT offered me the opportunity to return to Turkey for research interests, something which was impossible for a very long time, and the organization offered me a safe home and a central place to work in the city.
I am very grateful for the time I was able to spend at the NIT, and I sincerely hope I can return in the near future for further research activities.