Basak Tanulku is an independent researcher from Istanbul, Turkey. She holds a PhD degree in Sociology, Lancaster University (the UK). Her main research areas are socio-spatial segregation, particularly gated communities and similar housing developments; neighbourhoods and communities; space and identity; urban transformation and its effects on urban communities and heritage and urban social movements. She is also interested in the socio-political and cultural context of Turkey and the Middle-East and gender issues.