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    GBER Vol. 7 No. 1 pp 69 -70
    
    Book Review Yasser Mahgoub 
    Kuwait University, Kuwait.*    
    
    The Evolving Arab City: Tradition, Modernity  and Urban Development 
    Edited by: Yasser Elsheshtawy, UAE University, Al Ain Publisher: Routledge, May 2008, ISBN:978-0-415-41156-1 328 Pages, 200 Illustrations Price: $125.00 (Hardback). “The Evolving Arab City: Tradition, Modernity and Urban Development” is a sequel to Elsheshtawy’s edited book “Planning Middle Eastern Cities: An Urban Kaleidoscope in a Globalizing World” published by Routledge (2004). It prolongs the debate initiated by the first book by introducing critical assessments of more contemporary Middle East cities. This new collection reveals the contrasts and similarities between older, traditional Arab cities and the newer oil-stimulated cities of the Gulf in their search for a place in the world order. In addition to the six cities covered in the first book - Algiers, Baghdad, Sana’a, Tunis, Cairo and Dubai - the eight cities which form the core of the new book – Rabat, Amman, Beirut, Kuwait, Manama, Doha, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh – provide a unique insight into today’s Middle East cities. In his introductory chapter titled “The Great Divide: Struggling and Emerging Cities of the Arab World”, Elsheshtawy states the aim of the book as to enrich the study of urbanism and of globalization process as an accompaniment to the earlier book. He structures the book using both geographic and socio-cultural markers. Rabat, Amman and Beirut are included in the first group title ”Struggling cities” as traditional centres desiring to move away from the restrictions of the and of tradition and to embrace modernity. Elshestawy points to the theme of the ‘struggle’ as cities are viewed as both recipients of modernity and at the same time a focal point for Arabic-Islamic identity. Furthermore, the impact of Dubai – Dubaization!- is quite strong as Dubai’ ‘daily’ successes are being envied by other cities. In his prologue to the chapters titled “The New Arab Metropolis”, Fuad Malkawi calls for a new research agenda pertaining to Arab cities. He notes the absence of the Arab city from global city literature. He argues that “no city should be viewed in isolation or as part of some global network; in their globalizing efforts they interact with a variety of forces at different scale and levels, simultaneously guiding and shaping their development.” Jamila Baragach’s chapter on Rabat titled “From Capital to Global Metropolis” describes the role of the ‘State’ in constructing housing environments and the experiences of residents within these constructed environments illustrating the ‘clash’ between state policies and citizens. Sofia Shwayri’s chapter titled “From Regional Node to Backwater and Back to
    
    *Yasser Mahgoub Kuwait University, Kuwait. Email yassermahgoub@gmail.com 69 
    
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    Uncertainty: Beirut, 1943–2006” shows the role of both ‘local and global’ actors in the reconstruction process of Beirut. In his chapter titled “Amman: Disguised Genealogy and Recent Urban Restructuring and Neoliberal Threats” , Rami Daher discusses the impact of global capital on Amman’s urban development focusing on Abdali project, modelled after Beirut’s Solider, as a case study. Cities from the Arabian Peninsula: Riyadh, Manama, Kuwait, Doha and Abu Dhabi are included in the second group titled “Emerging Cities” that are undergoing massive urban transformation comparable to changes that took place during the 20th century, however this time changes are fuelled by globalization and global capital. Cities in the Arabian Gulf region are eager to reassert themselves as world cities and not mere producers and exporters of oil. Riyadh, Kuwait and Manama are reintroducing themselves as regional capital and investment centres, while Doha and Abu Dhabi are emerging as global educational and cultural centres. In his chapter titled “Riyadh: A City of ‘Institutional’ Architecture”, Al-Naim provides a critical insider’s account of Riyadh – a city rarely written about. He introduces this state capital as a ‘city of institutional architecture’ projecting an image that is resisting modernization while at the same time providing an alternative. My chapter on Kuwait titled “Kuwait: Learning from a Globalized City” provides an overview of this cities development and the impact of global economics, politics and regional conflicts on its development. As one of the early cities to modernize in the Gulf during the middle of the 20th century, Kuwait is experiencing a second wave of modernization following major setbacks during the 1990’s. The chapter introduces the voices of local architects and the struggle to regain Kuwait’s lost position in the region. Adopting a planning perspective, Mustapha Ben Hamouche’s chapter on Manama titled “Manama: The Metamorphosis of a Gulf City” provides a unique account of the first city in the Gulf to encounter the depletion of oil economy. He identifies three modes of urbanism that characterized its growth and their impact on its urban form. The city is emerging as a financial hub through new projects such as the Bahrain Financial Harbour. Hamouche advocates a policy of preservation for the ‘dying heart of the old city’ that is degrading under the influence of new developments and rapid urbanism of globalization. Khaled Adham’s chapter on Doha titled “Rediscovering the Island: Doha’s Urbanity from Pearls to Spectacle” provides an analysis of a city that is emerging as a global centre for media, education, culture and finance through projects such as ‘Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development’ and ‘Pearl Island’ reclamation project, and 180 high rises of the West Bay area and the I.M.Pei Islamic museum project. In his chapter on Abu Dhabi titled “Cities of Sand and Fog: Abu Dhabi’s Arrival on the Global Scene”, Elsheshtawy illustrates this city new global orientation through the spectacular development of Saadiyat Island – which will house four museums and performance centres designed by world top ‘architects’ – Gehry, Hadid, Nouvel and Ando. He raises significant issues related to social sustainability, the role of capital in creating spaces of exclusion, and the role of museums and art in a globalizing world. This book and its predecessor provide unique insiders accounts of Middle Eastern cities’ development and current state of globalization. The stories reveal the struggles of these cities to retain their Arab/Islamic identities while emerging as global cities. Few cities that can provide even a greater insight into the struggle are still absent from the spectrum – Jerusalem, Damascus, Khartoum and Masqat, to name just a few. While most writings on the Middle East limits itself to cities and urban settings, another level of discussion should also be addressed to the impact of globalization on small towns, villages and other “non-urban” environments that are equally exposed to the impact of globalization.
    
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