Istanbul's urban affects: Cosmopolitanism, secularism and 'Islamopolis'.

The article focuses on the transformation of Istanbul's Taksim Square and its symbolic role in reflecting tensions between neo-liberal Islamic governance, Ottoman cosmopolitanism, and Turkish secularism, particularly through the lens of the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Employing an intersectional methodology and affect theory, the study analyzes the diverse, cross-cultural coalition of protesters who framed the uprising as a "commune repertoire," evoking historical urban rebellions like the Paris Commune and expressing a cosmopolitan urban affect. The article situates these events within Istanbul's layered urban history, marked by demographic shifts, state-led urban renewal, and contested public spaces, highlighting how the Gezi protests temporarily created a multi-identity, anti-capitalist communal space amid ongoing neo-liberal Islamic urbanization. It concludes by noting the indirect political impact of this cosmopolitan alliance in Istanbul's 2019 local elections and ongoing challenges posed by large-scale state projects such as the Istanbul Canal.