DPU Working Paper - No. 138

Author: William Hunter

Publication Date: 2009

Global economic and social forces are affecting people and places everywhere. Despite its insistence as a mechanism for universal growth, the adoption of a neo-liberal world view has essentially led to a justification in restoring (and creating more) power for the economic elites, thus inviting intense competition among major global cities such as New York, Paris, London, and Hong Kong, as well as other cities throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. This worldwide competition has instilled great pressure upon emerging cities to become more accustomed and responsive to global trends of modernity.  Since the late 19th century, the expansion and consolidation of free trade,  global monetary systems, and the mass movement of goods, services and people, has gone hand in glove with the need to connect the world through networks (Kaika and Swyngedouw, 2000).

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