Aesthetic Elisions: The Ruins of Palmyra and the “Good Life” of Liberal Multiculturalism

The destruction of Palmyra by ISIS revealed a paradoxical attachment to its ruins, symbolizing an idealized 'good life' of liberal multiculturalism characterized by trade and tolerance. This study argues that such representations, while aesthetically appealing, often elide power imbalances and economic inequalities, particularly in neighboring Tadmor. By applying Lefebvre's theory of space production and affect theory, the research exposes the political stakes of romanticizing Palmyra as a multicultural haven at the expense of acknowledging its entanglement with systemic inequities. The findings challenge the ethical implications of linking desires for coexistence to such idealized sites, while also contributing to broader discussions on the global circulation of affect tied to spaces.

Kalaycioglu, E. (2020). Aesthetic Elisions: The Ruins of Palmyra and the “Good Life” of Liberal Multiculturalism. International Political Sociology, 14(3), 286–303. https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/olaa004