Istanbul's Balat as a Multicultural Space: A Taylorian Analysis of Barbara Nadel's Belshazzar's Daughter

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This paper focuses on Barbara Nadel’s Belshazzar’s Daughter, a crime novel set in Istanbul’s Balat district during the 1990s, through the perspective of Charles Taylor’s ideas on multiculturalism. Taylor’s notion of the “politics of recognition” forms the basis of the theoretical approach, providing a way to examine how different communities interact within a shared urban setting. The novel depicts a space inhabited by a wide range of cultural and religious groups, including Turks, Jews, Armenians, and immigrants from other backgrounds. These characters come together in a neighbourhood historically known for offering protection and tolerance. As such, Balat is represented not merely as a physical location but as a symbolic space of cultural diversity. The novel centres on Inspector Çetin İkmen’s investigation of a murder, but through this storyline, readers gain access to the deeper tensions and solidarities among the residents. Rather than presenting a one-dimensional view, the narrative offers a layered portrayal of individuals attempting to live side by side. Through close reading of specific scenes, the study considers whether the novel affirms a vision of mutual acceptance or presents obstacles to that ideal. This approach contributes to ongoing academic conversations about literary depictions of urban coexistence and shared spaces, with a specific focus on Istanbul’s historical and cultural backdrop.