‘Send in the clown’: Re-inventing Jordan’s downtowns in space and time, case of Amman

Abstract

Identity representation in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) cities remains an arena of contestation, influenced by two factors: the ancient and recent history of western colonialism, which fostered orientalism and demarcated the dialectical relations that exist between eastern and western cultures until recently, and the evolving waves of economic-driven neo-liberalism and globalization. Focusing on the downtown areas in Amman (old downtown – the Saha and new downtown – the Abdali), the study argues that urban practices in these downtowns are rooted in the power structure of orientalism. The authors introduce the concept of ‘oriental urbanism’ on the basis of notions of colonialism, modernism and globalization. Orientalism in Amman’s downtowns acts on two level: orchestration and normalization. Orchestration occurred in colonial and postcolonial periods where the language of oriental urbanism was framed, shaped and institutionalized. Normalization is empowered by the growing power of globalization to normalize orientalism in the minds of local and regional actors and make it the sole language for regenerating the identity of old and new Amman downtowns. This leaves Amman with a paradoxical identity: one is classical and the second is global. The two identities are denying the society any internal capacity for development and assuring that introduction of these societies into alternative modernity becomes the right and obligation of international powers. Continuous oriental urbanism triggers an East–West paradox with its implications of contested urbanism, social disparities and cultural denigration. The research stresses that urbanism in MENA should be liberated to allow politics of identity to be an essential part of urban design, thus allowing sovereignty of local populations, self-determination and the building of autonomous identity, that is, allow Liberal Urbanism.