In this special episode of This Is Not a Watermelon podcast, we speak to Professor Mona Harb, co-founder of the Beirut Urban Lab at the American University of Beirut, to help us delve into the intricate socio-political dynamics and historical narratives of Beirut's southern suburbs, known as "Dahiyeh" that's been under severe Israeli bombardment since September. Professor Harb offers an in-depth exploration of Dahiyeh, a part of the Lebanese capital often associated with Shi'ism, poverty, and Hezbollah, highlighting the socio-economic diversity in the area and the effects of Lebanon's civil war and subsequent urban planning policies on this large geography which encompasses several municipalities. The episode further explores the interconnected economy and population movements, and the impact of media misrepresentation on Lebanon. Stressing on just how large and diverse of an area "Dahiyeh" is, Harb explores the impacts of Israeli attacks on urban heritage, the media's false portrayal of Hezbollah, and the strength of Beirut's communities amidst the ongoing challenges. With personal insights and professional expertise, she sheds light on the multifaceted narrative of this urban space in Beirut, bringing attention to the fact that the attack on Dahiyeh (and the south of Lebanon) is an attack on the entire Lebanese population and infrastructure. Harb highlights the resilience and solidarity among Beirut's communities and the significance of knowledge production in fostering inclusive urban environments. This episode was recorded on October 15th at 5pm Beirut time. 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Personal Reflections on Safety in Beirut 02:53 Understanding the Southern Suburbs of Beirut 04:31 Historical Context and Evolution of Dahieh 09:19 Sectarian Geographies, Municipalities and Urban Dynamics 15:11 Current Damage and Reconstruction Challenges 19:42 Interconnectedness of Lebanon's Regions 22:54 Lies in Media Portrayal 28:07 The Dahieh Doctrine and Urbacide Explained 30:43 Impact on Education and Daily Life 34:34 Challenges Faced by Students and Youth During The Current Israeli War on Lebanon 39:38 Solidarity and Hope Amidst Crisis 44:59 Recommendations for Further Reading Mona Harb is Professor of Urban Studies and Politics at the American University of Beirut where she is also co-founder and research lead at the Beirut Urban Lab. Her research investigates governance and territoriality in contexts of contested sovereignty; urban activism and oppositional politics; and how people make collective life in fragmented cities. She is the author of "Le Hezbollah à Beirut: de la banlieue à la ville, co-author of Leisurely Islam: Negotiating Geography and Morality in Shi’i South Beirut (with Lara Deeb)", co-editor of "Local Governments and Public Goods: Assessing Decentralization in the Arab World (with Sami Atallah)", and co-editor of "Refugees as City-Makers (with Mona Fawaz et al.)". She serves on the editorial boards of MELG, IJMES, EPC, and CSSAME, and was previously on the boards of IJURR and the ACSS. At AUB, she served as Coordinator of the Graduate programs in Urban Planning, Policy and Design, Associate Dean of her faculty, and as Chairperson of the department of Architecture and Design. Connect with Mona 👉 https://x.com/mona_harb_ Beirut Urban Lab is a collaborative and interdisciplinary research space. It produces scholarship on urbanization by documenting and analyzing ongoing transformation processes in Lebanon and its region's natural and built environments. It intervenes as an interlocutor and contributor to academic debates about historical and contemporary urbanization from its position in the Global South. Discover Beirut Urban Lab 👉 https://beiruturbanlab.com/ Explore the Middle East Research and Information Project 👉 https://merip.org/
In this special episode of This Is Not a Watermelon podcast, we speak to Professor Mona Harb, co-founder of the Beirut Urban Lab at the American University of Beirut, to help us delve into the intricate socio-political dynamics and historical narratives of Beirut's southern suburbs, known as "Dahiyeh" that's been under severe Israeli bombardment since September.