Seminar SoSe 2024
Dr. Hassan Elmouelhi, Hellen Aziz, Prof. Dr. Anke Hagemann

Contemporary Arab Urbanism IV
Power relations and Participation in Arab Public Space

This seminar introduces urbanization trends and challenges in the MENA/Arab region. Current urbanism in Arab countries has taken different paths. Some countries are still suffering from civil wars, others are struggling with political reforms. Meanwhile, the Gulf states are booming with many (controversial) urban mega-projects which aim at creating a new identity and a diversification of economic resources.

Photo © Elmouelhi 2022

The seminar will discuss the geopolitical situation and urbanization processes in different countries in the MENA/Arab region, and their implications on different urban typologies. The focus will be on participation, perception and practice within the urban governance framework and the political context. Public space is a core element that represents the roles and relations between the state, citizens and other stakeholders. We will include cases from Tunesia, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine and Egypt, and some contributions from invited experts who will share their experience from other Arab countries. As a part of the international cooperation project “Power relations in Urban Governance: Participation in Arab Public Space” (funded by the DAAD), this seminar is combined with a workshop in one of the partner countries (Egypt, Lebanon, or Morocco), and one in Berlin. Some activities are coordinated with the studio Insurgent Design. 

Download poster here.