Skyscrapers as an instrument for economic development: the case of Amman

Concern with economic performance dominates the urban agenda of most modern cities, but this objective is pursued differently according to the ideology of the community. Amman follows distinctive development trajectories that reflect both the interactions of global forces and the local community. The primary global force affecting Amman is the competitive international environment engendered by economic globalisation that makes the city an increasingly attractive location for investment. This competition is manifested in city marketing strategies that reflect the desire to attract multinational corporations and specialists. The political ideology of the city plays an important role in the globalisation process currently taking place in Amman. In the USA, city planning is undertaken by different developmental agencies with limited participation of the city-region scale, while in Western Europe the state is involved in urban development and planning. Amman's situation is a mixture between state control and economic liberalism in which urban development is determined by the planning vision of attracting foreign investment and reduced restrictions to free enterprise.