ABSTRACT
Abdulrahman Munif, well known Saudi writer, in The Trench, the second volume of his epic pentology ‘Cities of Salt’, describes the transformations which have occurred in the fi ctional city of Mooran – initially a desert settlement from where an entire city is created from scratch. In the process he evoked the fears and desires of its residents, giving a voice to those bearing the brunt of modernization. At the same time he articulates in clear terms the extent to which such desert cities are shaped by their rulers, and how their whims, opinions and personalities direct their development. The above quote suggests an almost messianic vision, a destiny that is bestowed upon the rulers to create a city – to turn it into paradise (fi gure 10.1). But they are also cities without history, or memory. Where do we fi nd such cities? What do they look like? And do these visionary proclamations have a place in a globalizing world? This chapter is an attempt to answer these questions.
