War and the City: Urban Geopolitics in Lebanon

The book "War and the City" explores the geopolitical significance of the Lebanese Civil War by examining how the urban landscape of Beirut was transformed. It focuses on the initial phase of the war in 1975 and 1976 and draws parallels with more recent internecine conflicts and Lebanons colonial past. It proposes an exploration of the urban nature of conflict through its spaces, infrastructures, bodies, and materialities, highlighting the nature of sovereignty in Lebanon and how it is inscribed on the urban landscape.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 17 June 2021
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The book delves into the geopolitical implications of the Lebanese Civil War by examining the profound transformation of Beirut's urban landscape during the conflict. With a focus on the initial phase of the war in 1975 and 1976, the volume also draws significant parallels with more recent occurrences of internecine conflict and with the historical legacies of Lebanon's colonial past. While most scholarship has thus far concentrated on post-war reconstruction efforts, the initial process of destruction has been largely overlooked. This volume seeks to rectify this by shifting away from formal macro-level geopolitical analysis and proposing an exploration of the urban nature of conflict through its spaces, infrastructures, bodies, and materialities.

The book employs urban viewpoints to highlight the nature of sovereignty in Lebanon and how it is inscribed on the urban landscape. It explores the ways in which the war not only altered the physical fabric of the city but also its social, economic, and cultural dynamics. By examining the spatial distribution of violence, the impact of urban planning on conflict resolution, and the ways in which the war transformed everyday life for its residents, the book offers a unique perspective on the complex interplay between war, urbanization, and geopolitics.

In conclusion, War and the City is a groundbreaking work that challenges traditional understandings of geopolitics and urbanization. By examining the Lebanese Civil War through the lens of the city, the book offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between conflict, power, and space. It provides valuable insights into the ways in which cities can be both sites of resilience and vulnerability, and into the challenges that policymakers and urban planners face in responding to the impacts of war and other forms of violence.

Weight: 262g
Dimension: 139 x 215 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780755636549