From the Chinguetti mosque to Dubai towers ‘Extraversion’, connections and neo-urban society in a globalized Mauritania

Globalization in Mauritania, while driving economic development and urban transformation, creates deep-seated frustration for most Mauritanians. This study highlights the ambivalence of globalization by contrasting the symbolic significance of historical sites like the Chinguetti mosque with the modern skyline of Dubai, reflecting the neo-urban society emerging in a globalized context. The research employs spatial and identity analysis to explore how Mauritania's integration into the global economy reshapes its cultural landscape, particularly in the capital city Nouakchott. It reveals that while globalization fosters material progress, it also perpetuates symbolic disconnects, underscoring the complexities of socio-economic transitions.

Choplin, A. (2010). From the Chinguetti mosque to Dubai towers ‘Extraversion’, connections and neo-urban society in a globalized Mauritania. The Maghreb Review, 35(1-2), 146–163. https://doi.org/10.1353/tmr.2010.0029