Abstract
Comolli discusses the challenges that are specific to stabilisation efforts in cities. She relies on international lessons from past conflict and post-conflict situations which are of relevance for the Middle East. Building on an overview of demographic and urbanisation trends and on a discussion of urban warfare, the author argues that given the multifaceted challenges presented by urban conflict and post-conflict scenarios military or security interventions on their own are insufficient. Instead, conflict cities would benefit from ‘area-based’ approaches. The latter involve targeting aid and other interventions to promote the recovery of specific areas such as building public services in a given neighbourhood. Crucially, this approach rests on greater participation by local communities in defining priorities and strategies.
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Comolli, V. (2020). Urban Warfare: Stabilisation of Cities. In: Gervais, V., van Genugten, S. (eds) Stabilising the Contemporary Middle East and North Africa. Middle East Today. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25229-8_10
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