Emerging Global Cities: Origin, Structure, and Significance

Cities like Dubai, Miami, and Singapore have grown in importance, becoming global cities in their own right. This book identifies the factors that allow certain urban places to become "emerging global cities" and contrasts them with "global hopefuls." It highlights the importance of climate change to the prospects of emerging global cities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 27 December 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Certain cities, most notably New York, London, and Tokyo, have been recognized as "global cities," whose role in the global economy transcends national boundaries. While the same fanfare is not given to formerly peripheral and secondary cities that have been growing in importance, they are emerging as global cities in their own right. The striking similarity of the skylines of Dubai, Miami, and Singapore is no coincidence: despite following different historical paths, all three have achieved newfound prominence through parallel trends.

In this groundbreaking book, Alejandro Portes and Ariel C. Armony delve into the rapid and unexpected rise of these three cities, reshaping global urban studies. They identify the constellation of factors that enable certain urban places to become "emerging global cities," serving as centers of commerce, finance, art, and culture for entire regions. The book meticulously traces the transformations of Dubai, Miami, and Singapore, highlighting key features common to these emerging global cities. It contrasts them with "global hopefuls," cities that once aspired to become global but faced challenges. Additionally, the book analyzes how Hong Kong is threatened with the loss of its global status.

Portes and Armony emphasize the significant role of climate change in shaping the prospects of emerging global cities. They demonstrate how the same economic system that propelled their rise now poses a threat to their future. Emerging Global Cities offers a powerful new framework for understanding the role of peripheral cities in the global economy and their competitive strategies for achieving global standing.

This book is a valuable resource for policymakers, urban planners, researchers, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of urban development and the evolving landscape of global cities. It sheds light on the challenges and opportunities faced by these cities and provides insights into the strategies they employ to thrive in a rapidly changing world. By examining the case studies of Dubai, Miami, and Singapore, as well as the broader context of global urbanization, Portes and Armony offer a comprehensive and insightful analysis that will be of great interest to a wide audience.

Weight: 572g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231205177