Urban Development in the Muslim World

Details:
News headlines have focused the world's attention on the Middle East. But as the editors remind us, "the economic, political, and cultural aspects of urban life in the Muslim world are hardly known." Drawing on first-hand experience, the contributors explore urban problems, urban development, and the practice of urban planning in the cities of the Muslim world. The authors address the basic dilemma of development planning: how to integrate the force of tradition with the demands of modernity. Chapters examine the idea of a uniquely "Islamic" city; the influence of Islam on the medinas of Tunisia and Morocco and on the development of Mecca and Delhi; reconciling tradition and modernism in Tehran; the comparative development of Sana'a and Cairo; the influence of oil on urbanization in the Persian Gulf; urban growth in Syria; and an overview of urban planning as it is practiced in the Arab world. This fascinating collection is essential for specialists and students of the region, for international planning and development practitioners, and for all those seeking insight into the complexities of this most important but possibly least understood region of the world. "A welcome addition to the few publications on the dynamics of urban growth and development in the region." Professional Geographer