Divided Cities in the Middle East

Abstract

continuestopromoteresearchonurbansociallifebeyondthe United States, featuring three articles on Jerusalem and Beirut, divided cities in theMiddle East.This introduction places the articles in the broader context of two prominent urbanthemes. One is the distinctiveness of the ancient and ever-changing cities of the MiddleEast. Cities in the region certainly differ among themselves, but share some commonali-ties in history, spatial structure, political organization, and culture. However, that distinc-tiveness is eroding under the external influences of globalization, international politics,and neoliberal policies. The second theme in these articles is that of divided or contestedcities. The authors apply more general theories of social and symbolic boundaries tourban sociology as well as theories of the social construction of urban space, its represen-tational force and cultural significance. In Beirut and Jerusalem, contests over space arenot merely conflicts between exchange value and use value, productive capital and col-lective consumption. Although class struggles are occurring and gated communities arespringing up in the region, more deadly are conflicts about ethnonational identity andspiritual values, sovereignty and the sacred. Divided cities are polarized over religion,ethnicity, even nationality, so that conflicts over space, territory, and “turf” go beyondthe rough and tumble of interest group pluralism, the class, ethnic, and racial clashes sofamiliar in U.S. urban politics. Although American cities do periodically erupt in com-munal violence, race riots and gang wars do not compare to the protracted fighting tocontrol sacred sites between organized sectarian militias in the Middle East. Those com-batants split cities right down the middle, with social boundaries marked by barricades,checkpoints, and walls. Europe has not escaped these deadly conflicts over urban space:Belfast, Mostar, Nicosia, and Sarajevo come to mind. Thus, Beirut and Jerusalem addressgeneral theoretical issues for urban sociologists and cities beyond the Middle East. Theyalso offer lessons about boundary-making processes generally.