FIGURE 6.23 Photo Essay: Urbanization in North Africa and Southwest Asia Globalization has brought two distinct patterns of urbanization to this region. In fossil fuel-rich countries, populations are more urbanized and cities have undertaken lavish building booms, drawing in laborers and highly skilled workers from across the globe. In countries without fossil fuel wealth, cities are receiving massive flows of poor rural migrants. This is partially a result of economic reforms (emphasizing export agriculture and industrialization) aimed at making rural and urban economies more globally competitive. 6.23a Courtesy Motivate Publishing/Gallo Images/Getty Images, 6.23b Courtesy Abdelhak Senna/AFP/Getty Images, 6.23c Courtesy Phillip Hayson/Photolibrary/Getty Images