ISPEC International Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities

Obese Terrorist Bodies as Biopolitical Resistance in Toole and Acosta’s Narratives

İrem Şevin KORKMAZ — 2025-09-02

This article explores the nuanced representations of obesity and the expressions of biopolitical violence in John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces and Oscar “Zeta” Acosta’s Autobiography of a Brown Buffalo. The "Obese Terrorist Body" is suggested as an important analytical tool to explore complex interplays of identity, normativity, and acts of resistance. A comparison of the two authors demonstrates how the casting of drunk and frumpy characters is used to subvert hegemonic ideologies in a world that ostracizes any deviational behavior as nonconformist as well as to demonstrate the systems of oppression that business is based upon. It further shows how the protagonists' experiences are celebrated in conjunction with biopolitical control and reflects on the conflicts between individual resistance and social member of the community norms. Through locating the obese body as simultaneously a site of oppression and a possible site of resistance, the narratives reveal the contestation and redefinition of dominant discourses. As a result, significant perspectives on body politics and identity in the context of bio-politics in contemporary American literature is offered in this study. In the end, this essay serves to further enlighten the cultural and political ramifications of the representation of obesity, drawing attention to the need to re‐examine the role of such representations in the shaping of body image, as well as society.

Macroeconomic Determinants of Credit Card Expenditures in Türkiye: An Asymmetric Approach

Atilla ÜNLÜ — 2025-09-02

In this study, the macroeconomic determinants of credit card expenditures in Turkey are investigated through an asymmetric framework utilizing monthly data spanning the period from March 2014 to March 2025. The analysis explores the relationship between credit card spending and key macroeconomic indicators, namely interest rates, the real effective exchange rate, the consumer price index, money supply, and the real sector confidence index. The data, sourced from the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT), are analyzed using the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model to capture potential asymmetries in the short- and long-run dynamics. The empirical findings indicate that the effects of macroeconomic variables on credit card expenditures vary according to the direction of the shocks. In the short run, positive and negative changes in the confidence index, money supply, interest rates, and exchange rate are associated with increases in credit card usage, while positive inflation shocks are found to dampen expenditures with a lag. In the long run, both increases in the confidence index and interest rates have a statistically significant and positive effect on credit card expenditures, whereas contractions in money supply similarly stimulate card-based spending. By contrast, the exchange rate and inflation do not exhibit statistically significant long-run effects on credit card expenditures.

The Post-Earthquake Protection Status of Traditional Antakya Mansions in the Redevelopment Process

Aysel Özge KOCABAŞ — 2025-09-02

Buildings constructed based on experience rather than the intervention of expert architects are referred to as traditional architecture. These buildings, which have lost their function over time, are being restored to society through repurposing. Antakya has a rich traditional architectural heritage due to its continuous settlement since 300 BC and its role as a host to many civilisations. One of the most important elements of this heritage is the Traditional Antakya Mansions. However, these mansions have suffered significant structural damage throughout history due to their location in an earthquake zone. In recent years, efforts have been made to preserve these mansions by repurposing them. This study examines two traditional mansions located in the historic city centre of Antakya district, Hatay province, which were affected by the 2023 Kahramanmaras-centred earthquakes. The history, architectural features, repurposing processes, and post-earthquake damage conditions of the mansions were evaluated. The information obtained has been compiled in the conclusion section. The study discusses the fundamental challenges in preserving traditional residential structures and the factors that threaten their long-term sustainability, particularly in the face of natural disasters such as earthquakes. Additionally, it aims to contribute to the literature on the preservation and sustainability of traditional Antakya mansions.

The Impact of Spatial Organization in Shared Offices on Users’ Functional and Perceptual Evaluations

Gamzenur KASAP OKUT — 2025-09-02

This study aims to examine the relationship between the interior spatial organization of co-working spaces and user experience, which has become increasingly relevant in today’s work environments. The research takes COZONE, a co-working space located in Ankara, as a case study and evaluates user satisfaction, needs, and expectations regarding spatial layout and furnishing elements. A survey developed for this purpose was administered to 166 users. The findings indicate that female users assessed the spatial structure and flexibility more positively than their male counterparts and demonstrated greater sensitivity to aesthetic comfort components such as material, color, and texture. The placement of furniture and the diversity of work units were found to be equally sufficient across all user groups. The results highlight the necessity of addressing the diverse needs of different user profiles. Accordingly, a multidimensional interior design approach is proposed, one that incorporates flexible planning, sensitivity to user diversity, aesthetic quality, and privacy considerations.

An Analysis of The Relationship Between Income Distribution and Economic Growth in Türkiye

Levent AKSU — 2025-09-27

Empirical studies on income distribution in Turkey have produced diverse findings due to differences in sampling methods, household surveys, and population censuses conducted at various periods with different cross-sections. The relationship between income distribution and economic growth has long been debated in the economic literature and constitutes a significant research field in terms of the sustainability of social welfare. This study examines the relationship between income distribution and economic growth in Turkey from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. Within the theoretical framework, the approaches of classical economists (Smith, Ricardo, Malthus, Mill) regarding growth and income distribution are revisited, along with Kuznets’ “inverted U hypothesis.” Moreover, the views of modern scholars such as Piketty, Atkinson, and Milanovic on inequality and growth are also discussed. The empirical analysis incorporates variables such as growth rates, the Gini coefficient, poverty rates, inflation, unemployment, the informal economy, transfer expenditures, and public debt stock. The findings reveal that economic growth has a deteriorating effect on income distribution, and the benefits of growth are not equally shared across different segments of society. In conclusion, the relationship between income distribution and economic growth in Turkey partially supports the Kuznets inverted U hypothesis, yet the findings indicate that this is neither automatic nor universal, but rather contingent upon macroeconomic stability, fiscal policies, and institutional structures. The results emphasize that economic growth alone is insufficient to reduce inequality, and that effective social policies, equitable tax reforms, and measures to enhance education and employment are essential for achieving a fairer income distribution.