Contesting Neoliberalism: Urban Resistance and the Socio-Spatial Dynamics of Nahr Beirut

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70917/fce-2025-034

Keywords:

urban resistance, neoliberal urbanization, nahr beirut, socio-spatial dynamics, right to the city

Abstract

This study investigates the socio-spatial dynamics of Nahr Beirut, a frequently overlooked yet significant part of Beirut’s urban landscape. Drawing on Henri Lefebvre’s concept of 'representational spaces,' the research explores how neoliberal urban policies have influenced the riverbanks, mainly through profit-driven development that has marginalized local communities. The study examines six regions along the Nahr Beirut River, uncovering indirect forms of resistance that residents actively employ to challenge these neoliberal interventions. Indirect resistance is demonstrated through community-driven practices such as workshops, graffiti, and architectural modifications that question top-down urban policies. The research reveals a complex interplay between neoliberal urbanization and grassroots resistance, illustrating how marginalized communities assert their right to the city in the face of socioeconomic and political challenges. By focusing on the everyday practices of urban resistance, the study contributes to the ongoing discourse on how communities can reclaim urban spaces to safeguard their social and cultural identity. While the study is geographically confined to the Nahr Beirut area, it underscores the potential for future urban policy changes that could reshape the dynamics of resistance and development. The research advocates for a more inclusive, community-centered approach to urban planning that harmonizes economic growth with social equity and environmental sustainability. 

Author Biographies

  • Nadine Fayad, Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Design, Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University

    Dr. Nadine Fayad is an architect with a Ph.D. in urban planning and is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Architecture and Design at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University. She has worked as a consultant in the Saudi public sector, primarily with local authorities and municipalities, focusing on drafting urban and municipal regulations and guidelines. With extensive teaching experience in architecture, she currently teaches urban planning and architecture while advising students on urban regeneration, cultural preservation, and socio-economic analysis. Her work and research interests bridge theory and practice, exploring urban transformation and the impact of neoliberal policies on cities.

  • Chuloh Jung, Department of Architecture, College of Architecture and Design, Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University

    Dr. Chuloh Jung is a South Korean working as a professor in the Department of Architecture at PMU, KSA. He received his B.S. in Architectural Engineering from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, in 1994, his M.Arch. from Harvard University in 1997, his M.Des.S. from Harvard University, in 2001, and his Ph.D. from Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, in 2007.

    Dr. Chuloh Jung has 24 years of experience teaching, research, and curriculum development at graduate and undergraduate levels. He has developed and taught design studios/urban design studios, sustainable design/environmental design, modern & contemporary architecture, research methodology, and specialized courses in design computation, often integrating my design projects into the curriculum, during his tenure at the American University of Dubai and Ajman University in the United Arab Emirates. His practical design experience includes collaborations with renowned architects like Lord Richard Rogers, Daniel Liebeskind, UN Studio, Zaha Hadid, and Massimiliano Fuksas. His portfolio on Archidaily.com demonstrates a convergence of building culture, technology, sustainability, and innovative design methodologies.

    Over the past three academic years, my scholarly endeavors have yielded 51 SCI/SSCI, 10 ESCI papers (49 Scopus Q1 and 2 Scopus Q2), and 15 conference proceedings. His teaching effectiveness is reflected in a high instructor evaluation score of an average of 4.84/5 in the annual faculty evaluation, having supervised 35 thesis projects in the last five years. Additionally, he led the Ajman University Innovation Center, nurturing technology startups aligned with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

    Dr. Chuloh Jung hopes to contribute to preparing an outstanding young generation of architects and engineers who will help shape the future of cutting-edge and sustainable architecture in KSA and the region and collaborate to establish a more preeminent College of Architecture and Design in PMU.

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2025-09-09 — Updated on 2026-10-19

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Contesting Neoliberalism: Urban Resistance and the Socio-Spatial Dynamics of Nahr Beirut. (2026). Future Cities and Environment, 11. https://doi.org/10.70917/fce-2025-034 (Original work published 2025)