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Johns Hopkins University | SA.555.116

Urban Space and Conflict in the Middle East

4.0

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This course explores how civil war, revolution, militarization, mass violence, refugee crises, and terrorism impact urban spaces, and how city dwellers respond through urban resilience and attempts to reclaim their right to the city. Through case studies of Diyarbakir, Beirut, Jerusalem, Aleppo, Raqqa, and Baghdad, the course traces how urban life adjusted to destruction (and post-conflict reconstruction); how neighborhoods were reshaped; and how local ethnic, religious, and political dynamics played out in these cities and metropolises. Relying on multidisciplinary scholarship on urban space, gender, and conflict, and employing a wealth of audiovisual material, the course examines how conflicts have impacted urban life in the Middle East and how civilians confront encroachment on public spaces. The course also considers the policy implications of these transformations, exploring how urban warfare, displacement, reconstruction efforts, and governance challenges shape decision-making by local authorities, international organizations, and humanitarian actors. By connecting historical and contemporary case studies to debates on post-conflict recovery, urban governance, and humanitarian policy, the course encourages students to assess how cities become both arenas of conflict and critical sites for rebuilding political order and civic life.

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