"On the Shore of All Possibilities"

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…” begins Charles Dickens in his book A Tale of Two Cities. Can we argue that Dickens' statements, which strikingly reveal the contradictions and in-betweenness of the cities of the Industrial Revolution, are still not valid today?

We live in an age of insecurity and uncertainty, where crises in different corners of the world, from the deepening housing crisis to conflicts, from disasters to forced displacement, from income inequalities to the climate crisis, are driving societies to anxiety; where possibilities for living together have been increasingly restricted; where cities have turned into a struggle for survival rather than a welcoming home for their residents. Governance systems that cannot keep up with the dynamism of life and cannot produce solutions to inequalities are far from being fair, inclusive and accountable structures that can respond to the demands of individuals and societies for a better life.

On the other hand, we are living in an era of opportunities and possibilities that are perhaps greater than at any other time in history. The tools, technological capabilities, scientific developments, access to information and resources are much more powerful, advanced and faster. The cultural diversity and heritage that nourish us, our societies and cities are getting richer every day.

However, in this age of opportunities, hunger is as possible as satiety, destructing is as possible as building, depleting ourselves in conflict with one another is as possible as living together by embracing our differences.

We gather “on the shore of all possibilities” for Cities Developing Solutions

Inspired by the 50-year history of Marmara Municipalities Union in its pursuit of local democracy and a better urban life, and by Turgut Uyar, who, in a way, distills the words of Charles Dickens into three words, we believe that we are “on the shore of all possibilities.”

The shore is sometimes more than a border, it is a constantly changing, reshaping, transitory space between land and sea. It belongs to everyone and no one, and perhaps that is why it is the most vulnerable to being lost. It is a threshold between the land and the sea which carries turbidity and clarity, fluidity and stagnation together, a threshold that carries possibilities and opportunities with its uncertainty and the path it draws.

We invite you to stand with us and look from this threshold together at MARUF25; to meet on the shores of the Golden Horn and seek tailor-made and creative solutions, to experience ways of thinking that reconcile different perspectives, to explore means of co-production, and even to get reacquainted and strengthen our ties. At MARUF25, which will take place on 1-3 October 2025, at Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul, we will come together on the shore of all possibilities with hopeful realists, resentful despairers and incorrigible optimists to collectively query and reflect on the following questions:

How is it possible to have a fair city with strong, participatory, reliable and accountable institutional structures where local democracy is sincerely embraced? How is it possible to have an inclusive city that eliminates social inequalities and fosters solidarity and co-living? How is it possible to have a city that is resilient to disasters, climate change-induced threats and economic crises? How is it possible to have a safe city with a high quality of life, where all living beings are taken care of and resources are used responsibly?

This year, MARUF aims to be a breath of fresh air in the face of destructive dynamism; to stop when needed instead of moving at full speed; to strike a balance that involves not only growth but also simplification. The flow of MARUF25 offers an experience that accelerates yet knows how to slow down, that intensifies but can be eased at times—just like the flow of water; seeking direction, taking shape, but always finding a path for itself.

The state of being “on the shore of all possibilities” represents not only a concern but also a hope and an invitation in these turbulent times. It is a call to all urban thinkers not only to identify the challenges but also to rethink, dream together and search for the better. A call for the infinite possibilities that we do not yet know and will discover together...