Determining a Strategy for Sustainable Development of Local Identity: Case of Birgi (İzmir/Turkey)

Abstract

Today, it is difficult to retain and strengthen local character in theglobalizing world. Showing the advantages of small towns and tostrengthen their identities with focusing on ‘small realities in aglobalizing world’’ by increasing the value of local differences is animportant subject in the global atmosphere. From this point, taking theadvantage of Birgi’s (Izmir/Turkey) having strong natural, man-madeand cultural identity, this study aims to find out the most appropriateplanning strategy for the sustainability of Birgi’s (İzmir-Turkey) localcharacter and identity which was selected as a case study. This studymade some on-site observations for establishing the existing localidentity potentials of Birgi. After these observations, within the scope ofthe study, first of all, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats(SWOT factors) of the settlement were identified. Additionally, todetermine the most appropriate planning strategy, a numerical SWOTanalysis called A’WOT analysis which is the combination of AnalyticalHierarchy Process (AHP) and SWOT analysis was used. Then, identifiedSWOT factors prioritized by an expert group (35 person) using A’WOTanalysis. After finding general and local priority values of SWOT factors,four planning strategies were displayed by using TOWS matrix. Then, themost appropriate strategy among these planning strategies was chosen according to their priority values. In conclusion, it was found that“Entering to Slow City Movement” planning strategy is the mostappropriate and important strategy between prioritized planningstrategies for the sustainability of Birgi’s local identity.