The Thinking Muslim Are Modern Cities Killing Our Souls? With Dr Heba Raouf Ezzat
Aug 12, 2025
Dr. Heba Raouf Ezzat, a renowned political scientist and former professor at Cairo University and LSE, dives deep into the soul-crushing aspects of modern cities. She critiques urban planning that prioritizes capitalist ideals over communal well-being. With insights on the cultural displacement caused by gentrification, she emphasizes the need to balance modernity with spiritual values, especially in sacred spaces like Mecca. Dr. Ezzat advocates for urban designs that reconnect individuals to their heritage and promote genuine community living, urging us to rethink what city life should embody.
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Cities Shape Civic Life
- Cities shape civic life because spatial design enables or disables public gathering and political participation.
- Heba Raouf Ezzat argues spatial analysis is the missing piece in political and social theory.
Urban Routines Reduce Political Energy
- Everyday urban routines alter political engagement by changing how people move and meet in cities.
- Changes in consumption and debt culture further distract people from broader causes.
Why Tahrir Square Went Quiet
- Heba inspected a midday photo of Tahrir Square and found it unusually empty compared to memory of busy Thursdays.
- She traced emptiness to road projects, ministry relocations and demolition of dense nearby neighborhoods.
