City Debates 2019: Navigating the Complexities of Urban Recovery and Displacement

1-3 April 2019  - American University of Beirut, Lebanon

The American University of Beirut (AUB) set the stage for an exploration of urban recovery at the intersection of displacement and reconstruction during the 2019 City Debates Conference, held from April 1st to 3rd. Amidst a global context where one person is forcibly displaced every two seconds, the conference delved into the critical issues of displacement and reconstruction, subjects that have become increasingly pertinent as the number of displaced individuals worldwide soars.

Under the overarching theme of "Urban Recovery at the Intersection of Displacement and Recovery," City Debates 2019 sought to unravel the complex spatial modalities representing these intersections. The conference provided a platform for interdisciplinary discourse, bringing together diverse perspectives from historical, urban, anthropological, geographical, and cultural studies. This holistic approach aimed to extend the dialogue beyond the conventional scope of conflict-induced displacement and reconstruction, focusing on the broader spectrum of crises and recovery processes.

A highlight of the conference was the Special Session on Syria, chaired by Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj. Mr. Hallaj opened the session, setting the tone for insightful discussions that followed. The session featured three eminent speakers: Giulia Guadagnoli from the Syria Initiative, Common Space Initiative, who elaborated on women's roles and opportunities in Syrian cities across conflict lines; Eva Ziedan, an independent scholar, who presented on the intricate relationship between heritage and communities through space and time; and Ghiath Al Jebawi of Erd-Teks, who discussed the development frame of Syrian cities, with a specific focus on the city of Azaz.

City Debates 2019 not only provided a platform for reflection on the intersections of displacement and reconstruction but also reframed these concepts. Displacement was viewed as an agency, the displaced as social capital, and post-conflict urban environments as archives. The conference underscored the importance of understanding the socio-spatial practices of reconstruction, furthering the discourse on how displaced individuals rebuild their lives, environments, and memories in new locales. This annual event once again proved to be a cornerstone in fostering critical and interdisciplinary conversations on some of the most pressing urban challenges of our time.

Header Photo

2019 City Debates.  Photo © AUB.  Link >

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