Welcome back! This post is a final word on my blogs investigation into the urban political ecology of the rich and diverse city of Ramallah. Writing this blog has shown me, and hopefully, those who have read it, that the urban political ecology of Ramallah, from its stray dog problem to the severe lack of water and waste infrastructure, all stem from an ongoing political battle. No aspect of the city has been unaffected by occupation, and the legacies of colonialism have shaped the UPE of one of the Middle East’s most beautiful cities.
The plethora of topics we have covered in relation to the city show just how much urban landscapes overlap with ecological and political discourses. An extremely notable post for me was the immense inequality that exists in Ramallah in regard to water infrastructure. In an age where everything seems to be at our fingertips, it is difficult to believe that one of the most developed cities in the Levant continues to suffer from issues as primal as water availability. Alas, this shows the extent of political challenges facing the city and truthfully, the entire region. Importantly, it emphasises the need for the study of urban political ecology so as to assess the best and most effective ways to move forward, towards a future of socio-natural relations that benefit all those who reside in a city. Swyngedouw’s recognition of the importance of past urban traditions and the possible future synergies of urban economic, political and ecological discourses, paved the way for cities like Ramallah to have a chance to develop successfully.
I would like to leave you with this video and attached article by Christina Ganim, who gives a small look into the vibrant and oftentimes misunderstood culture of Ramallah, which she coins ‘a cosmopolitan bubble’. The video showcases how much the city can come alive, even under intense occupation, to create a lively and friendly atmosphere.
I hope that you found this blog informative, and I would love to hear anything that you have taken away from it, as well as any similarities with the urban political ecology of your city.
Some other blog posts on this city:
Further reading:
https://www.frieze.com/article/ramallah
Words: 355
The Bloomsbury Urbanist 
Hi, I just wanted to say that reading your blog has been really informative and given me a variety of insights into Ramallah that I had not thought about before! I personally found your post on the issue of stray dogs and cats in Ramallah the most fascinating as I had never heard about such a problem prior to reading your entry. However, more generally, a key element I have taken away from reading your posts about Ramallah through a UPE lens was the importance of understanding the power relations that dictate the decision-making process in the city which have tangible impacts both on urban residents as well as urban nature.
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