Beirut

Beirut gained prominence as a Levantine city and as Lebanon’s primate city in the mid-19th century. The growth of Beirut has been affected by the interplay of local and global forces and events. Such ‘glocal’ factors, including the changes in the global economic system through trade and capital flows, regional geo-political events and wars, and the dynamics of the Lebanese political economy, contributed substantially to the city’s transformation. Since 1840, Beirut has passed through five phases of transformation with each phase being affected by specific ‘glocal’ dynamics while at the same time each phase produced specific spatial and social orders.

Research highlights
► To provide an overview of the geography and history of the city of Beirut.
► To expose the phases that mark the growth of the city each influenced by the interplay of global, regional and local forces and events.
► To reflect on the current urban issues that impinge on the city.