Mona Harb

About the Author

Mona Harb is a distinguished scholar and professor of urban studies and politics at the American University of Beirut, where she explores the intricate intersections of space, power, and identity in the Middle East. Her research delves into how urban environments shape social and political dynamics, particularly in marginalized communities. With a focus on Shi‘ite societies, Harb's work illuminates the everyday negotiations of morality, geography, and leisure in contested urban landscapes. Her seminal book, Leisurely Islam: Negotiating Geography and Morality in Shi‘ite South Beirut (Princeton Studies in Muslim Politics), offers a groundbreaking ethnographic analysis of how residents in Beirut's southern suburbs navigate piety and pleasure amid geopolitical tensions. Harb's interdisciplinary approach bridges anthropology, political science, and urban planning, contributing vital insights to understandings of contemporary Muslim worlds and urban resilience.