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This is the first book ever to examine the architecture and urbanism of the Persian Gulf as a complete entity, dealing equally with conditions on the eastern Iranian shoreline as in Arabic countries on the western side. By inviting a range of architects and scholars to write about historical and contemporary influences on 14 cities along both Gulf coastlines, the book traces the changes in architecture and human settlement in relation to environmental factors and particularity of place. It provides an innovative contribution to the study of architecture and globalisation through a detailed investigation of this particular region, investigating how buildings and cities are being shaped as a result. A set of thematic essays at the end offer important insights into issues of globalisation, urbanism and environmental design, drawing from the experience of the Persian Gulf. The outcome is a unique record of the Gulf in the early-21st century at a point when global capitalism is making major inroads and yet questions of architectural design, climate change, ecological sustainability, cultural identity and so-called 'Facebook Democracy' are likewise shaking up the Middle Eastern region. The book thus offers a fresh reading of the architecture and urbanism of a fascinating and often contradictory region, while also showing how globalisation can be analysed in a more engaged and integrated manner.

ABSTRACT: This article aims to characterize the relation of a community of fishermen in the Gulf of Urabá to the surrounding mangrove ecosystems and their conservation. The analysis was done following the ethnographic approach (participant observation and in-depth interviews). The analysis is based on the perspectives of political ecology and ethno-ecology. This approach reveals the existence of multiple overlapping territorialities and power relations underlying the inequitable attribution of responsibilities among local stakeholders in the conservation and restoration of the mangroves. The absence of favorable attitudes regarding the protection of marine and coastal resources is considered to be an expression of the sharp contradictions that permeate the economic, social and political life of the Urabá region. ; RESUMEN: Este artículo propone caracterizar la relación de una comunidad de pescadores del golfo de Urabá con los ecosistemas de manglar y su conservación. La investigación realizada siguió el método etnográfico (observación participante y entrevistas en profundidad). El análisis parte de las perspectivas de la ecología política y la etnoecología. Este acercamiento revela la existencia de la superposición de múltiples territorialidades y relaciones de poder que subyacen a la atribución inequitativa de responsabilidades entre los actores locales en la conservación y restauración de los manglares. La ausencia de actitudes favorables para la protección de los recursos marinos y costeros es considerada como una expresión de las agudas contradicciones que atraviesa la vida económica, social y política de la región de Urabá.