A "SOPHISTICATED STATE": A LITTLE PLACE, INSIGNIFICANT EXCEPT FOR ITS OIL REVENUES (PROVIDED BY THE WEST), THAT IS NEITHER A REAL STATE (EXCEPT FOR THE MIDDLE-EASTERN CONCEPT OF WHAT STATES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE) NOR SOPHISTICATED IN ANY CONCEIVABLE WAY.
WHAT DOES AN ARAB SHEIK UNDERSTAND ABOUT SOPHISTICATIONS THAT DEMANDS, FIRST AND FOREMOST, A HIGHLY DEVELOPED CULTURAL STRUCTURE AND BACKGROUND? THERE IS LITTLE IF ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN OIL MONEY (SUPPLIED BY THE WESTERN WORLD) AND THE CONCEPT OF SOPHISTICATION. THIS WE ALL KNOW, PRESUMABLY EVEN THE STAFF AT NEWSWEEK.
TRYING TO BECOME AN ALCHEMIST OF SORTS IS A VERY FRUSTRATING ENDEAVOR THAT SHOULD NOT BE LIGHTLY ATTEMPTED BY ANYONE. THE MIDDLE-EAST IS THE MIDDLE EAST, ARABS ARE ARABS, ISLAM IS ISLAM AND, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON WITH THE TERM SOPHISTICATION. AND BY THE LOOKS OF IT - THEY NEVER WILL.
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A Sophisticated State
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Qatar also seeks to promote hip, brainiac appeal with its annual Tasmeem design conference, sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University. A six-day symposium that explores the state of contemporary design, the conference has drawn distinguished speakers such as Bruce Mau, Stefan Sagmeister and Twyla Tharp.
The nation hasn't completely resisted the lure of the lavish. Emboldened by 15 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, its civic planners have developed their own from-scratch island project, the Pearl, built on land reclaimed from the sea by an extensive engineering effort. A massively ambitious undertaking, the complex includes more than 16,000 luxury condos, townhouses and villas, four luxury hotels, seven small private island "estates," nightclubs, restaurants and the longest luxury retail promenade in the world: more than 2.5 kilometers of luxury boutiques. The first phase is scheduled to open this month.
Perhaps the most surreal, slightly campy aspect of the Pearl is the Qanat Quartier, described in promotional materials as "a waterfront village reminiscent of the best of Venice and Amsterdam," complete with an intricate canal system, gondolas and pedestrian plazas and squares. Even that part of the project, however, manages to stay on message in terms of Qatar's brand identity: an upscale, evolved lifestyle destination, designed to appeal to a select few instead of the grand masses.
Qatar's policymakers remain passionately committed to the belief that it's not necessary to abandon their heritage in order to make room for the modern world. They seek, instead, to harmonize the two and create a third way, a middle path built on a foundation of both technology and tradition. In a corner of the world that is riven by misunderstanding, their efforts stand as a compelling argument that a progressive, intellectual approach to prosperity might be the best way to keep the peace—and attract the tourists.
© 2008
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