Worlds in the City: From Wonders of Modern Design to Weapons of Mass Destruction

In this chapter,1 I address three theoretical issues. The first concerns the use made by nations, cities, and religions – and within these larger categories, corporations, individuals, and followers – of spectacular architecture, and especially high rise towers, not only as signifiers of economic, political and cultural power, but also of national, corporate and both individual as well as collective identities.