Sociologist Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that with modern urban life, the increasing number of people living in apartment buildings and high-rises, along with phenomena such as anonymity and social isolation, has made neighborly relations increasingly superficial. He said, “People no longer know their neighbors and do not interact with them. A large-scale national survey in Türkiye revealed that 63.3% of the Turkish population believes that neighborly relations are not as strong as they used to be, while 31.2% think these relationships have completely disappeared.”
Prof. Süleymanlı noted that warm and supportive neighborly relations still exist in Turkish society, even in major metropolitan areas. He added, “Especially in places where neighborhood culture remains strong or in small apartment buildings, trust and mutual assistance still hold an important place among people.”
Stating that neighborly relations are an important social phenomenon forming the foundation of social solidarity, Prof. Süleymanlı emphasized, “In today’s world, where social isolation is increasing, neighborly relationships can be an important tool for coping with loneliness.”
Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı from Üsküdar University’s Department of Sociology evaluated the sociological dimensions of the concept of neighborliness and the effects of modern urban life on these relationships on the occasion of November 17 World Neighbours Day.
Neighborliness is a form of social closeness
Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı explained that from a sociological perspective, neighborliness refers to the social relationships people establish with one another in the environment where they live. “These relationships are shaped by elements such as emotional support, cooperation, trust, and mutual responsibility. Neighborliness is not only geographical proximity but also a concept formed by social, cultural, and psychological bonds. People often come together around similar lifestyles, values, and needs, and this forms the foundation of neighborly relations.” he said.
Neighborliness played a critical role in traditional societies
Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that in traditional societies, neighborliness created a strong social network and played an important role in strengthening social bonds. “People interacted constantly with their neighbors, helped one another, and supported each other regarding safety. Neighborly relations also played a significant role in providing psychological support and creating a sense of belonging. These kinds of relationships played a critical role in ensuring social cohesion.” he explained.
Neighborly bonds are weakening in cities
However, Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı emphasized that with modern urban life, the increasing number of people living in apartment buildings and high-rise structures, combined with anonymity and social isolation, has made neighborly relations superficial. He continued: “People no longer know their neighbors and do not interact with them. A large-scale national survey conducted in 2024 by Areda Survey revealed that 63.3% of the Turkish population believes that neighborly relations are not as strong as they used to be, while 31.2% think these relationships have completely ended.”
The culture of shopping malls has also transformed the neighborliness among tradespeople
Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı noted that a similar transformation has occurred in marketplace and tradespeople neighborliness. “In the past, local shopkeepers in neighborhoods and bazaars strengthened their commercial and mutual aid relationships through strong social bonds. However, today, as workplaces have become more anonymous, shopping malls have become widespread, and customer relations have turned more functional, neighborly relations among tradespeople have also become more superficial and interest-oriented.”
Urbanization and individualization have created a transformation in neighborly relations
Stating that urbanization and individualization have brought a noticeable transformation in neighborly relations, Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı said, “Urbanization has physically distanced people from one another, and neighborly bonds among those living in high-rise buildings have weakened. In addition, tendencies toward individualization have increased personal space and privacy, reducing the desire to interact with neighbors. In this context, problems such as neighbor noise negatively affect neighborly relations and cause neighbors to drift apart. Over time, these attitudes push individuals toward a more isolated lifestyle and gradually weaken social bonds. Loneliness and loss of trust have ceased to be issues belonging solely to Western societies and have become global problems.”
People now communicate with their neighbors only when needed
Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı stated that although apartment and gated community living provides physical proximity, it reduces social interaction. “People have withdrawn more into their private spaces and have begun communicating with neighbors only when necessary. This has weakened traditional neighborly ties. Warm, sincere relationships and mutual assistance that were once common in neighborhoods have become more superficial in apartment settings. Although shared spaces in residential complexes, such as parks, parking lots, and social facilities, are intended to bring people together, interactions in these areas also tend to remain superficial. Additionally, the digitalization process has made neighborly relations more independent and temporary; traditional warm relationships have been replaced by more virtual and distant connections.”
The sense of solidarity among neighbors has decreased
Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı explained that the traditional saying “a neighbor needs even their neighbor’s ashes” emphasized how close and important neighborly relations once were. “People used to help one another materially or emotionally in times of need, and this understanding formed the basis of social solidarity and mutual trust. However, today this understanding has significantly weakened. Especially in big cities, with individualization and the prioritization of personal space, such solidarity is becoming increasingly rare. Neighborly relations tend to occur only at times of need, and the sense of mutual assistance and solidarity has gradually diminished.”
He added that in large cities, neighborly relations have sometimes begun to be associated with social status. “In areas where high-income groups live, relationships between neighbors can become more superficial and competitive. This situation causes neighborliness to be shaped not by traditional notions of assistance and sharing, but by concepts such as social visibility and social status.”
There are still those who maintain strong neighborly relations
Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı emphasized that even in Turkish society, and even in major metropolitan cities, there are still people who maintain warm and supportive neighborly relations. “Especially in places where neighborhood culture remains strong or in small apartment buildings, trust and mutual assistance still hold an important place among people.” he said.
The tradition of “dropping by unannounced” has almost completely disappeared
Prof. Ebulfez Süleymanlı explained that in modern life, privacy has become increasingly valuable, and this shift has significantly affected neighborly relations. “People expect more respect for their private lives and therefore prefer less interaction with their neighbors. The growing importance of privacy has widened the distance between neighbors and created more reserved and superficial relationships. The tradition of visiting neighbors without prior notice has almost completely disappeared. While neighbors in the past could easily visit one another, unannounced visits today are generally not welcomed.” he said.
WhatsApp neighbor groups can also lead to unwanted tensions
Prof. Süleymanlı noted that the digital age has reshaped the concept of neighborliness in the virtual sphere. “WhatsApp groups, social media, and online forums not only allow neighbors to exchange information but also enable them to produce collective solutions to issues such as security concerns or emergencies. This makes it possible to interact without physically coming together. Yet despite these conveniences, virtual neighborliness cannot reflect the warmth and sincerity of traditional relationships. This transformation leads to more superficial neighborly relations and weaker solidarity. Moreover, digital interactions can sometimes cause misunderstandings or tensions. A shared piece of information or a comment can lead to unwanted conflict among neighbors.”
Neighborliness remains important for elderly people living alone and families with children
Emphasizing that neighborly relations are an important social phenomenon forming the basis of societal solidarity, Prof. Süleymanlı continued his remarks as follows: “However, factors such as modern societal dynamics, urbanization, individualization, and digitalization have weakened these bonds and replaced them with a more isolated lifestyle. Encouraging face-to-face interaction is highly important for strengthening neighborly relations again. In today’s world, where social isolation is increasing, neighborliness can be a key tool for coping with loneliness. Even a simple greeting can be an effective step toward strengthening these relationships. A warm greeting from neighbors can be vital, especially for elderly individuals living alone or families with children. In this sense, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan’s statement ‘Neighborly relations keep society standing’ gains even greater significance in preventing societal issues such as loneliness and lack of trust.” he concluded.