The Transformation of ‘Unayza: Where is the “Paris of Najd” today?
‘Unayza was a prominent urban center in Arabia at the height of the oil boom, at times even referred to as the “Paris of Najd”. As a combined result of the consolidation of the Saudi central state in the 1930’s, increased oil revenues in the 1970’s and the recent nationalization of Saudi identity, ‘...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Centre Français d’Archéologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa
|
| Series: | Arabian Humanities |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/cy/2587 |
| _version_ | 1797311153562451968 |
|---|---|
| author | Sebastian Maisel |
| author_facet | Sebastian Maisel |
| author_sort | Sebastian Maisel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ‘Unayza was a prominent urban center in Arabia at the height of the oil boom, at times even referred to as the “Paris of Najd”. As a combined result of the consolidation of the Saudi central state in the 1930’s, increased oil revenues in the 1970’s and the recent nationalization of Saudi identity, ‘Unayza has lost much of its former glory and reputation. Although a sizable city with all necessary services, it has been turned into a city lacking in attractiveness, and devoid of real economic decision‑making power or political weight at the national level. ‘Unayza’s significance is dwindling and the city no longer stands out from other Saudi Arabian cities. The article analyzes the reasons for the fall‑off and argues that this relative decline stems from overwhelming state control over the city's administration and resources, the collusion of the elites and a rapid transformation of social and economic standards. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T01:54:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3ef181b69154261ab75672a192d58e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2308-6122 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T01:54:30Z |
| publisher | Centre Français d’Archéologie et de Sciences Sociales de Sanaa |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arabian Humanities |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3ef181b69154261ab75672a192d58e42024-02-14T09:17:22ZengCentre Français d’Archéologie et de Sciences Sociales de SanaaArabian Humanities2308-6122210.4000/cy.2587The Transformation of ‘Unayza: Where is the “Paris of Najd” today?Sebastian Maisel‘Unayza was a prominent urban center in Arabia at the height of the oil boom, at times even referred to as the “Paris of Najd”. As a combined result of the consolidation of the Saudi central state in the 1930’s, increased oil revenues in the 1970’s and the recent nationalization of Saudi identity, ‘Unayza has lost much of its former glory and reputation. Although a sizable city with all necessary services, it has been turned into a city lacking in attractiveness, and devoid of real economic decision‑making power or political weight at the national level. ‘Unayza’s significance is dwindling and the city no longer stands out from other Saudi Arabian cities. The article analyzes the reasons for the fall‑off and argues that this relative decline stems from overwhelming state control over the city's administration and resources, the collusion of the elites and a rapid transformation of social and economic standards.https://journals.openedition.org/cy/2587identityurbanizationadministrationGovernment Servicesocial transformation |
| spellingShingle | Sebastian Maisel The Transformation of ‘Unayza: Where is the “Paris of Najd” today? Arabian Humanities identity urbanization administration Government Service social transformation |
| title | The Transformation of ‘Unayza: Where is the “Paris of Najd” today? |
| title_full | The Transformation of ‘Unayza: Where is the “Paris of Najd” today? |
| title_fullStr | The Transformation of ‘Unayza: Where is the “Paris of Najd” today? |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Transformation of ‘Unayza: Where is the “Paris of Najd” today? |
| title_short | The Transformation of ‘Unayza: Where is the “Paris of Najd” today? |
| title_sort | transformation of unayza where is the paris of najd today |
| topic | identity urbanization administration Government Service social transformation |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/cy/2587 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sebastianmaisel thetransformationofunayzawhereistheparisofnajdtoday AT sebastianmaisel transformationofunayzawhereistheparisofnajdtoday |