Médinas 2030: Scénarios et stratégies (sous la dir.), L’Harmattan, Paris, 2009

The countries of the southern Mediterranean enjoy a rich and diverse cultural heritage. At the heart of this heritage lie the medinas – the historic city centres, often dating back to medieval times. A source of pride and collective belonging, they have nevertheless been subject to neglect and decay under the combined pressures of demographic growth, urbanization and modernization. Even though the cultural heritage value of these historic city centres is now widely recognised, no coherent rehabilitation policy is being implemented. Nevertheless, the medina is unquestionably a common good that must be preserved; more than that, it is an asset and a potential lever for the city and its inhabitants as a whole. All rehabilitation strategies and changes that need to be introduced have to be thoughtfully governed so as to preserve the historic and cultural values the medina symbolises and presents, not to the benefit of a small minority of privileged, but of the whole urban community, residents as well as visitors.