Global Cities

A Short History

Greg Clark

• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
• Year: 2016
• Print ISBN:
  9780815728917
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780815728924
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Business General
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Why have some cities become great global urban centers, and what cities will be future leaders?

From Athens and Rome in ancient times to New York and Singapore today, a handful of cities have stood out as centers of global economic, military, or political power. In the twenty-first century, the number of truly global cities is greater than ever before, reflecting the globalization of both economic and political power.

In Global Cities: A Short History, Greg Clark, an internationally renowned British urbanist, examines the enduring forces—such as trade, migration, war and technology—that have enabled some cities to emerge from the pack into global leadership. Much more than an historical review, Clark's book looks to the future, examining the trends that are transforming cities around the world as well as the new challenges all global cities increasingly will face.

Which cities will be the global leaders of tomorrow? What are the common issues and opportunities they will face? What kinds of leadership can make these cities competitive and resilient? Clark offers answers to these and similar questions in a book that will be of interest to anyone who lives in or is affected by the world's great urban areas.

INDEX

Abu Dhabi, 86

Abu-Lughod, Janet, 48

African Centre for Cities, 6

Agra, 52

Ahmedabad, 52

Akkad, 35

Aleppo, 48

Alexander the Great, 20, 36, 38

Alexandria: as ancient global city, 48; diversity of population, 38–39; history of, 38–39; trade and connectivity, 20, 21

Amsterdam: as ancient global city, 52, 53; competitiveness of, 157; future of, 182; governance in, 167; innovation in, 111; London’s financial connections to, 57–58; trade and connectivity, 25, 26

Ancient global cities: of Chinese dynasties, 40–41; entrepreneurial populations, 59; in Eurasia and Africa, 36–44; European commercial economy wave (1150–1350), 47–49; first wave, 34–47; geopolitical opportunities in, 60–61; history of, 33–61; innovation and influence in, 59–60; mercantilist wave (1650–1760), 54–55; in Mesoamerica, 44–47; post-Columbus wave (1500–1650), 49–54; trade and connectivity, 59. See also specific cities

Antioch, 21

Antwerp: as ancient global city, 52–53; trade and connectivity, 22, 25, 26

Arab-Israeli Peace Process, 75

Astana, 153

A.T. Kearney, 104, 112

Athens, 38

Austin, 111, 152

Austro-Hungarian Empire, 67

Autonomy, 160

Aztec Empire, 44, 46

Babylon, 35

Bactra, 35

Baghdad: Cairo’s competition with, 44; diversity of population, 46; history of, 45–46; trade and connectivity, 21

Bagram, 20

Bandar Abbas, 25

Bangalore: future of, 182; and ICT-powered wave of liberalization, 75; innovation in, 77; private sector in, 181; specialization of trade in, 75–76, 127

Bangkok, 27

Bank Austria, 139

Banking industry, 56–58, 74, 139

Bank of England, 57, 58

Bank of Japan, 71

Banten, 25

Barcelona: business leadership organizations in, 171; competitiveness of, 158; future of, 182; geopolitical opportunities in, 89; Global Talent program, 147; governance in, 173–74; and ICT-powered wave of liberalization, 75, 80; innovation in, 77; pathway to globalization, 137; specialization of trade in, 127; trade and connectivity, ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• One: Navigating Global Cities
• Two: Origins: Trade and Connectivity
• Three: The History of Global Cities I: Ancient Cities
• Four: The History of Global Cities II: Modern Cities
• Five: Understanding Global Cities
• Six: Global Cities Today
• Seven: The Future of Global Cities: Challenges and Leadership Needs
• Sources for Boxes and Figures
• Notes
• Index