The State Otherwise

The city of Beirut is increasingly congested, polluted and suffocating. Its already limited green public spaces are under growing threat of privatisation and redevelopment. The State Otherwise examines the difficult predicament of Beiruts public green spaces from the vantage point of the civic campaign to reopen Horsh al Sanawbar, the citys largest public park. Analysing the relationship between neoliberal sectarianism, private interest and political action, the book asks questions about the nature of privatisation of public property, civic societys potential to mobilise individuals and the role of public authorities in promoting the public good.