Sociologist Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that with modern urban life, the increasing number of people living in apartments and high-rise buildings, phenomena such as anonymity and social isolation have made neighborly relations superficial. He said, “People no longer know their neighbors and do not interact with each other. A comprehensive study conducted across Turkey revealed that 63.3 percent of the Turkish population believes that neighborly relations are no longer as strong as they used to be, and 31.2 percent think these relations have completely ended.”
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı also stated that even in Turkish society, including metropolises, there are still those who maintain warm and supportive neighborly relations, adding, “Especially in places where neighborhood culture is strong or in small apartment buildings, trust and mutual aid still hold an important place among people.”
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı, stating that neighborly relations are an important social phenomenon that forms the basis of social solidarity, said, “In an age where social isolation is increasing, neighborly relations can be an important tool for coping with loneliness.”
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı from Üsküdar University's Sociology Department evaluated the sociological dimensions of the concept of neighborliness and the effects of modern urban life on these relationships due to World Neighbor's Day on November 17.
Neighborliness, a Social Proximity
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı, stating that from a sociological perspective, neighborliness refers to the social relationships people establish with each other in their living environment, said, “These relationships are shaped by elements such as emotional support, mutual aid, trust, and mutual responsibility. Neighborliness is not just a geographical proximity, but also a concept formed by social, cultural, and psychological bonds. People generally come together around similar lifestyles, values, and needs, and this forms the foundations of neighborly relations.”
Neighborliness Played a Critical Role in Traditional Societies
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı noted that in traditional societies, neighborliness formed a strong social network and played an important role in strengthening social bonds. He explained, “People constantly interacted with their neighbors, helped each other, and supported each other in terms of security. Neighborly relations also served a great function in providing psychological support and a sense of belonging. Such relationships also played a critical role in ensuring social harmony.”
Neighborly Bonds are Weakening in Cities
However, Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that with modern urban life, the increasing number of people living in apartments and high-rise buildings has led to phenomena such as anonymity and social isolation making neighborly relations superficial, and continued:
“People no longer know their neighbors and do not interact with each other. A comprehensive study conducted by Areda Survey across Turkey in 2024 revealed that 63.3 percent of the Turkish population believes that neighborly relations are no longer as strong as they used to be, and 31.2 percent think these relations have completely ended.”
Shopping Mall Culture Also Transformed Shopkeeper Neighborliness
“A similar transformation has occurred in bazaar and shopkeeper neighborliness. In the past, neighborhood and bazaar shopkeepers strengthened shopping and mutual aid relationships by establishing strong social ties. However, today, with the anonymization of workplaces, the widespread use of shopping malls (AVM), and customer relationships becoming more functional, shopkeeper neighborliness has also transformed into a more superficial and interest-oriented state.”
Urbanization and Individualism Created a Transformation in Neighborly Relations
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that urbanization and individualism have brought about a significant transformation in neighborly relations. He said, “Urbanization has physically distanced people, and neighborly bonds have weakened among those living in high-rise buildings. Furthermore, individualistic tendencies have led to an increase in personal space and privacy, reducing the desire to interact with neighbors. In this context, problems such as neighborly noise negatively affect neighborly relations, causing neighbors to drift apart. Over time, these attitudes lead neighbors to a more isolated life and cause social bonds to weaken gradually. Loneliness and loss of trust have ceased to be a problem belonging only to Western societies and have become a global problem.”
Communication with Neighbors Now Only Happens When Needed
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı noted that apartment culture and site living, while providing physical proximity, have reduced social interaction. He said, “People have increasingly withdrawn into their private spaces and only started communicating with neighbors when needed. This situation led to the weakening of traditional neighborly bonds. The warm, intimate relationships and mutual aid that were common in neighborhoods in the past have become more superficial in apartments. Especially in site living, common areas (parks, parking lots, social facilities) aimed to bring people together, but even in these areas, relationships remained superficial. Furthermore, the digitalization process made neighborly relations more independent and temporary; traditional warm relationships were replaced by more virtual and distant bonds.”
Sense of Solidarity Among Neighbors Decreased
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that the traditional saying “a neighbor needs a neighbor's ashes” emphasized how close and important neighborly relations were. He said, “People used to help each other materially or spiritually in difficult times, and this understanding formed the basis of social solidarity and mutual trust. However, today this understanding has gradually weakened. Especially in big cities, with individualism and personal space coming to the fore, an understanding of solidarity like ‘a neighbor needing a neighbor's ashes’ is rarer. Neighborly relations have generally begun to form only in times of need, and the sense of mutual aid and solidarity has gradually decreased.”
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that in big cities, neighborly relations sometimes began to be associated with social status. He remarked, “In areas where high-income groups live, relationships between neighbors can become more superficial and competitive. This situation can cause neighborliness to be shaped more by ‘social visibility’ and ‘social status’ rather than the traditional sense of ‘mutual aid’ and ‘sharing’.”
Those Who Maintain Neighborly Relations Still Exist
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that even in Turkish society, including metropolises, there are still those who maintain warm and supportive neighborly relations. He said, “Especially in places where neighborhood culture is strong or in small apartment buildings, trust and mutual aid still hold an important place among people.”
The Concept of Drop-in Visits Has Completely Disappeared
Prof. Dr. Ebulfez Süleymanlı explained that privacy has become increasingly valuable in modern life, and this is reflected in neighborly relations. He said, “People want their private lives to be respected more, and therefore prefer to interact less with their neighbors. The increasing importance of privacy has widened neighborly distances and created more reserved, superficial relationships among people. The concept of drop-in visits has also almost completely disappeared. While neighbors used to be able to visit each other freely, unannounced visits are generally not welcomed today.”
WhatsApp Neighbor Groups Also Cause Unwanted Tensions
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı also stated that the digital age has reshaped the concept of neighborliness in a virtual environment. He said, “WhatsApp groups, social media, and online forums allow neighbors not only to share information but also to produce common solutions in situations such as security problems or emergencies. This allows for interaction without physically coming together. Nevertheless, despite all these conveniences, virtual neighborliness cannot reflect the warmth and sincerity of traditional relationships. This transformation leads to neighborly relations being more superficial and solidarity weaker. Furthermore, digital interactions can sometimes lead to misunderstandings or tensions. Sharing information or a comment can also cause unwanted tensions among neighbors.”
Neighborliness is Still Important for Elderly Living Alone or Families with Children
Prof. Dr. Süleymanlı stated that neighborly relations are an important social phenomenon that forms the basis of social solidarity. He concluded by saying, “However, the dynamics of modern society, factors such as urbanization, individualism, and digitalization have weakened these bonds, replacing them with a more isolated lifestyle. Encouraging face-to-face interaction is of great importance to strengthen neighborly relations again. In an age where social isolation is increasing, neighborly relations can be an important tool for coping with loneliness. Even a simple greeting can be an effective step to strengthen these relationships. Especially for elderly living alone or families with children, even a warm greeting between neighbors is vital. From this perspective, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan's saying ‘Neighborly relations keep society alive’ gains even more meaning in preventing social problems such as loneliness and distrust.”