Endowments and transnational networks: the urban politics of al-jam'iyyat al-khayriya in Kuwait

Source abstract

This paper investigates the strategies al-jam'iyyat al-khayriya (charitable organisations) in Kuwait use to shape urban development both locally and globally through Donation-Funded Projects (DFPs). Despite their substantial impact on the built environment, these organisations are commonly overlooked in urban studies because of their religious affiliation. Drawing on case studies and data from annual reports and charity websites, this research explores how al-jam'iyyat al-khayriya leverage modern technology, architecture, and visual representation to expand their political, economic, and social networks, thereby contributing to the broader processes of development and modernity. By filling service gaps typically addressed by the state, they have emerged as key non-state actors in urban governance. To support this analysis, the study adopts a decolonial interpretative approach, grounded in local cultural and linguistic contexts, to challenge the dominant Eurocentric perspectives in urban studies. By integrating religious motivations into the discourse on urban development, this research expands the conceptual framework for understanding non-state actors and their impact on urban governance and social identity formation. The aim is to foreground these organisations as urban actors and illustrate how their DFPs operate as levers of urban transition at city scale, linking governance, finance and visual representation to spatial change. This offers a novel approach to analysing the intersections of religion, urban development, and identity within the context of Middle Eastern cities.