Metropolitics

When Revolution Reinvents Public Space in Beirut

Ines Lakrouf & translated by Oliver Waine — 2020-09-18T05:00:00Z

In the fall of 2019, peaceful protesters in Lebanon were demanding an end to corruption and calling for a movement of national unity. A young urban planner gives her account of these events, and of the ways in which the inhabitants of Beirut are reclaiming public spaces.
In Lebanon, anger has been expressed loud and clear since October 17, 2019. Beyond the anecdotal side of a mobilization triggered by the imposition of a WhatsApp tax, as reported in the media, it is against an attack on the

- Debates / Lebanon, Beirut, public space, mobilization, demonstrations, revolution

Arab Cities in Revolution: Some Observations

Éric Verdeil & translated by Oliver Waine — 2011-02-25T08:04:37Z

Are the revolutions we are currently witnessing in Tunisia and Egypt essentially urban revolutions? Éric Verdeil examines the problems facing the economies and public services of Arab cities, which have, in part, given rise to these movements.
Like many observers, I have been keenly watching and left somewhat dumbfounded by the extraordinary events that have unfolded since 14 January in Tunisia and which, over the last week, have also spread to Egypt (a country I know very little about, I

- Essays / Arab city, revolution, urban economy, collective action, Arab Spring, Egypt, Tunisia