- Local identity in globalized world-El – Wadi El –Gedid, oases of The Egyptian Western Desert: Siwa, Baharia, Farafra, Dakhla i Kharga    46 kb by    Zagrzejewska - Fiedorowicz, Magdalena | jkmfiedorowicz@wp.pl    Short Outline The research of relationship between globalisation and local identity five oases of The Western Desert (Egypt) will be presented. The proposition of development of them will be shown. Abstract Magdalena Zagrzejewska - Fiedorowicz Poland, Warsaw University jkmfiedorowicz@wp.pl ''Local identity in globalized world- El – Wadi El –Gedid oases of The Egyptian Western Desert: Siwa, Baharia, Farafra, Dakhla i Kharga'' 39th International Planning Congress “Planning in a More Globalized and Compatitive World”, Cairo, Egypt, 17-22 October, 2003, session 2 “Changes in Urban and Social Morphologies”. Abstract Globalization can be considered as a closer integration of countries and peoples of the world which has been brought about by the large reduction of cost of transportation and comunication. In globalized world local identity is as important as freedom given by the breaking down of artificial barriers to the flow of goods, services, capital, knowledge and people across borders. Are the comparatively small isolated societies able to preserve their identity and benefit from globalisation proccess in the same time? Why is one society resistant to external influence and another is pliable? How could they take advantege of the impact of globalisation? Based on the research made in the Institute of Developing Countries Warsaw University the concept of development for the oases: Siwa, Baharia, Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga will be presented. The concept includes: a diagnosis of situation and susceptibility of globalisation in the oases, potential possibilities of developement and the way of execution. The diagnosis (made in historical aspect) was based on the following problems: social, cultural and economic structures. The potential possibilities to develope the oases result from environmental features such as: distance from the Nile Valley, lack of rainfalls, strong evaporation, artessian water and desertification process. There are cultural differences between the oases, too. For example Siwa is absolutelly unusual in respect all examined aspects. The possibilities consist of their unique character and peculiar isolation. How could they adapt to the global network world? One of the instruments resolving problem is to develop tourism, handicraft and, specific for this region, date production. It means we should find a solution crossing the three diagnosed issuess (social, cultural and economic structures) with the three possibilities to develop (tourism, handicraft and dates production) for each oasis. The matrix with the proposition of development of the five oases will be shown in the presentation. Keywords oases, local identity, Egypt Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2003: Planning in a more globalized World   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper