New Book Publication: From exported modernism to rooted cosmopolitanism: Middle East architecture between socialism and capitalism
5 July, 2024
Dr. Asma Mehan published her book chapter “From Exported Modernism to Rooted Cosmopolitanism: Middle East Architecture Between Socialism and Capitalism,” in the new book “Rooted Cosmopolitanism, Heritage and the Question of Belonging: Archaeological and Anthropological Perspectives,” by Routledge 2024.
This chapter, which took five years of extensive archival research, uses rooted cosmopolitanism as a theoretical lens to explore the dynamic interplay of exported modernism and architecture between socialist and capitalist countries during the Cold War. Through various case studies in the Middle East, I examine the circulation and local applications of urban development and modernization paradigms in so-called ‘Third World’ countries.
This chapter delves into the cosmopolitan and trans-cultural architecture created by both global and local influences. Comparing these two types of cosmopolitan architecture during the Cold War period in third-world contexts allows for a detailed analysis of their relative rootedness and the intricate, multifaceted planning transfers and architectural exportations. Edited by Lennart Wouter Kruijer, Miguel John Versluys, and Ian Lilley, this volume offers a comprehensive look into how cosmopolitanism influences our heritage and sense of belonging.
