Revitalisation of Downtown Khedive Cairo: A contested sovereignty

Abstract

Debate arose across the Egyptian community concerning controversial efforts in achieving prospective revitalisation for downtown Khedive Cairo. The research resulted in the identification of revitalisation stakeholders, and strategies and policies of revitalisation as well. It highlighted both public and private efforts within physical, social, economic and cultural revitalisation, along with their means and performance assessments. The objective was to evaluate such revitalisation efforts with respect to stakeholders' categories and perspectives. The research has been carried out through practical surveys based on primary data, such as direct observations and 100 semi-structured interviews with primary and secondary stakeholders and community professionals. This information was supplemented by secondary data such as relevant maps, planning documents and reports. On the one hand, semi-structured interviews highlighted the success of the physical and cultural revitalisation aspects. On the other hand, they revealed primary stakeholders and community professionals' apprehension with regard to the possible revitalisation process outputs within both economic and social aspects. These outputs include among others land use change, real estate speculation, the state surveillance over public space and prospect gentrification. This apprehension was on opposition to the positivist perspective toward secondary stakeholders.