The rise of global cities, metropolises that dominate their states, is exposing Australia’s lack of metropolitan governments. It’s time to restart the evolution of our states after a century on hold.
The infamous Makoko slum in Lagos, Nigeria.
Stefan Magdalinski/Wikimedia Commons
In our urban world, turning the makeshift and the informal into the livable and sustainable is our greatest challenge.
Fireworks explode over the Toronto skyline, during the opening ceremonies for the Pan Am Games in July 2015. Toronto is among several global cities that are driving trade in services among countries.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rebecca Blackwell
Cities have not been central to public policy discussions on trade growth and diversification that are typically centred on trade pacts between countries. But cities are now driving a lot of trade.
Cities will be driving globalisation and innovation in the emerging world order.
28 November Studio/Shutterstock
Welcome to the era of TechPlomacy where a new world order is emerging around cities and their economies, rather than nations and their borders.
Local residents holding Chinese and Olympic flags attend a rehearsal in Chongli county of Zhangjiakou ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Reuters/Jason Lee
Sporting extravaganzas are a way for globalising cities in emerging market economies to try and play the “modernity game”. But they don’t make the rules, and so they can never “win”.
Slum in Paris, by the Pont des Poissonniers.
André Feigeles/Wikimedia
Pushpa Arabindoo, Institut d'études avancées de Paris (IEA) – RFIEA
Slums are an increasing common phenomenon across the global North and global South. To what extent could they be seen as an inherent part of the urbanisation process?
Is there really a strong division between folks like Brexit leader Farage and global citizens Bill Gates and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau?
REUTERS/Peter Nicholls, Geoff Robins