Dubai Urbanization
“Things happen at such a speed, in such a fragmented way, and with so little governmental oversight that to find one person with a complete grasp of what’s going on is a very, very difficult task,” said Reinier de Graaf to Steven Zachs of Metropolis
Magazine about the city of Dubai. Dubai is a city with very little history as a town and even less history as a major city; however it has ignited much research, controversy and many to stare in awe from its rapid urbanization. The research will delve into the reasons behind this growth and how it has been used to commodify the rich culture of those whom lived in the place that Dubai currently occupies (Otherwise known as the Bedouins).
There has been much controversy surrounding the reasons for Dubai’s growth and that it is due to the cheap labor that is provided by the East Asians whom flee to Dubai in search of a better life and a higher income. Dubai had the least amount of oil reserves and yet it surpassed all expectation when it flourished, the research surrounding this phenomenon explains how
Dubai used its Bedouin history and prime location to grow quickly and attract many tourists. The city of Dubai maybe the global hub of the Arab World, but it is also one with many controversies and hypocrisies. The link between all these different ideas is Guy Debord’s “The Spectacle”. Briefly explained, the Spectacle is the representation of society in the form of a commodity, where people end up being spectators rather than active participants in society.
Donald P. Cole’s “Where Have the Bedouin Gone?” provides insight on how the Bedouin whom were the natives in the Gulf and many other Arab countries are now gone and have had to assimilate themselves within the state. He argues that the use of the
Bedouin heritage to attract tourists just shows the pride that the country has for its history, however therein lies a question:
How is it history, when most of the city has been urbanized to the
Magazine about the city of Dubai. Dubai is a city with very little history as a town and even less history as a major city; however it has ignited much research, controversy and many to stare in awe from its rapid urbanization. The research will delve into the reasons behind this growth and how it has been used to commodify the rich culture of those whom lived in the place that Dubai currently occupies (Otherwise known as the Bedouins).
There has been much controversy surrounding the reasons for Dubai’s growth and that it is due to the cheap labor that is provided by the East Asians whom flee to Dubai in search of a better life and a higher income. Dubai had the least amount of oil reserves and yet it surpassed all expectation when it flourished, the research surrounding this phenomenon explains how
Dubai used its Bedouin history and prime location to grow quickly and attract many tourists. The city of Dubai maybe the global hub of the Arab World, but it is also one with many controversies and hypocrisies. The link between all these different ideas is Guy Debord’s “The Spectacle”. Briefly explained, the Spectacle is the representation of society in the form of a commodity, where people end up being spectators rather than active participants in society.
Donald P. Cole’s “Where Have the Bedouin Gone?” provides insight on how the Bedouin whom were the natives in the Gulf and many other Arab countries are now gone and have had to assimilate themselves within the state. He argues that the use of the
Bedouin heritage to attract tourists just shows the pride that the country has for its history, however therein lies a question:
How is it history, when most of the city has been urbanized to the
Cited: Cole, Donald P. "Where have the Bedouin Gone?" Anthropological Quarterly (2003) Oct. 2008. Dalrymple, Theodore "Dubai Data Sheet." 2006. MPI Data Hub and MUG. 25 Oct. 2008 . Feb. 2004. Lebanese American University. 24 Oct. 2008 . 25 Oct. 2008 . Molavi, Afshin Cairo, Egypt. 25 Oct. 2008 . Zachs, Stephen. "Beyond the Spectacle." Metropolis Magazine Nov. 2007. Beyond the Spectacle|Metropolis Magazine. Nov. 2007. 22 Oct. 2008 .