10.17192/meta.2019.12.7933 Loewert, Patrick Patrick Loewert Steiner, Christian Christian Steiner The New Administrative Capital in Egypt: The Political Economy of the Production of Urban Spaces in Cairo Middle East - Topics + Arguments : Vol 12 (2019) Philipps-Universität Marburg 2019 New administrative capital mega projects political economy power struggle urban development Egypt Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies (CNMS) 2019-07-10 2019-06-25 en JournalArticle https://journals.uni-marburg.de/0003/2019/230/7933 urn:nbn:de:hebis:04-0003-2019-230-79333 https://journals.uni-marburg.de/0003/2019/230/7933/7933.png 2196-629X application/pdf https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 The New Administrative Capital reshapes Egypt’s urban landscape thoroughly. Nevertheless, empirical research on its political economy and spatial imaginaries is lacking. Building on a political geography framework and extensive qualitative fieldwork, we aim at contrasting official constructions of space with an analysis of the hidden interests, actions, and power struggles between its main stakeholders. Whereas foreign and private investors are officially key to the project, our analysis demonstrates that state institutions rivaled over its control, providing the military with new rent sources. The location and seize of the new palace indicates a lack of democratic conviction whereas citizen participation is largely missing. 2196-629X Middle East - Topics + Arguments Vol 12 (2019)