CHAPTER 6:
The Global City
Prepared by:
CYRELLE J. DOMINICO
Instructor I, Department of Social Sciences
Learning Objectives:
1. To Identify the attributes of a global city
2. To analyze how cities, serve as engines of globalization
3. To explain the theory of demographic transition as it affects
global population
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What is your favorite
CITY in the world?
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THE CONCEPT OF GLOBAL CITY
The eradication of trade barriers and the reduction in transportation and
communication costs, made individuals very mobile. The unprecedented mobility of
individuals became evident in the contemporary period. Places that offer the products of
globalization become the target of these individuals.
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GLOBAL CITY
The term "global city" signifies a city that plays a significant role in the global economy and
exerts influence beyond its national borders. These cities are not merely large or densely
populated; they are characterized by their strategic position within global networks of
finance, trade, technology, and information.
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The concept of global city is the
idea of cosmopolitanism.
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KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF GLOBAL
CITIES
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1. Economic Powerhouse:
G lo b a l cities h o use m a j o r f i n a n c i a l
institutions, multinational corporations,
and global stock exchanges. They attract
foreign investment and serve as centers for
innovation and entrepreneurship.
Example: New York City is home to Wall
Street, the world's leading financial center, and
is a hub for major multinational corporations
like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan Chase.
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2. Global Connectivity:
Global cities are interconnected through
transportation networks, communication
technologies, and international organizations. They
facilitate the flow of goods, services, capital, and
people across borders.
Example: London boasts a major international
airport (Heathrow) and is a central hub for global
airlines, connecting it to cities worldwide. Its
financial district, the City of London, is a key
player in international trade and finance.
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3. Cultural Hub:
Global cities are magnets for diverse
populations, fostering cultural exchange and
innovation. They are home to world-renowned
institutions of art, music, education, and
entertainment.
Example: Paris is renowned for its museums,
theaters, and art galleries, attracting artists and
cultural enthusiasts from around the globe. It is
also home to UNESCO, a key international
organization promoting cultural exchange and
cooperation.
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4. Center of Knowledge:
Global cities attract leading universities,
research institutions, and technology companies.
They drive innovation and contribute to the global
knowledge economy.
Example: Silicon Valley, located near San
Francisco, is a global hub for technology
innovation, home to companies like Google,
Apple, and Facebook. It also boasts prestigious
universities like Stanford and UC Berkeley,
fostering a culture of research and development.
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5. Political Influence:
Global cities often host international
organizations, embassies, and diplomatic
missions. They play a crucial role in shaping
global policy and influencing international
relations.
Example: Brussels, Belgium, houses the
headquarters of the European Union, making
it a key player in European and global politics.
It also hosts numerous embassies and
diplomatic missions, reflecting its political
significance.
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THE RISE OF GLOBAL CITIES
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1. Technological
Advancement:
Advancements in transportation and
communication technologies have facilitated
global interconnectedness, making it easier
for cities to connect with the world.
Example: The invention of the
container ship and the development of
global airline networks have revolutionized
transportation, allowing for faster and more
efficient movement of goods and people
across borders.
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2. Economic
Liberalization:
The deregulation of financial markets and
the rise of free trade have fostered the growth
of multinational corporations and global
financial institutions, which often locate in
global cities.
Example: The rise of neoliberal
economic policies in the 1980s and 1990s led
to the deregulation of financial markets and
the growth of global financial institutions like
the World Bank and the International
Monetary Fund, which have played a
significant role in shaping the global economy.
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3. Political Shifts:
The decline of nation-states and the rise of
international organizations have created space
for global cities to exert influence on the world
stage.
Example: The formation of the
European Union and the increasing
importance of international organizations like
the United Nations have led to a shift in
power from nation-states to global institutions,
creating opportunities for global cities to play a
more prominent role in international affairs.
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CHALLENGES OF GLOBAL CITIES
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1. Inequality and Social
Exclusion:
The concentration of wealth and power
in global cities often leads to widening
disparities between rich and poor.
Example: In cities like New York and
London, the gap between the wealthy and
the poor is growing, leading to issues of social
exclusion and limited access to opportunities
for marginalized communities.
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2. Environmental
Sustainability:
Rapid urbanization and economic growth
in global cities put a strain on resources and
contribute to environmental degradation.
Example: Cities like Beijing and Delhi
face severe air pollution due to rapid
industrialization and transportation growth,
highlighting the environmental challenges
associated with urban development.
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3. Security and
Governance:
Global cities are vulnerable to terrorism,
crime, and other security threats. They also
face challenges in managing their growing
populations and complex urban environments.
Example: Cities like Paris and London
have experienced terrorist attacks, highlighting
the security challenges faced by global cities in
a globalized world.
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OPPORTUNITIES OF GLOBAL CITIES
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1. Economic Growth and
Innovation:
Global cities can drive economic growth
and create new opportunities for employment
and entrepreneurship.
Example: The technology sector in Silicon
Valley has created numerous jobs and driven
economic growth in the region, demonstrating
the potential of global cities to foster
innovation and economic development.
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2. Cultural Exchange and
Diversity:
Global cities foster cultural exchange and
promote understanding between different
cultures and communities.
Example: Cities like Toronto and
London are renowned for their multicultural
populations, creating vibrant cultural
landscapes and promoting tolerance and
understanding between different communities.
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3. Global Cooperation
and Problem Solving:
Global cities can play a leading role in
addressing global challenges such as climate
change, poverty, and inequality.
Example: Cities like Copenhagen and
Amsterdam are leading the way in sustainable
urban development, demonstrating the
potential of global cities to contribute to
solutions for global challenges.
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LIST OF GLOBAL CITIES
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LONDON
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NEW YORK
CITY
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BEIJING
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DUBAI
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HONGKONG
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PARIS
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SHANGHAI
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SINGAPORE
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SYDNEY
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TOKYO
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SEOUL
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WASHINGTON
D.C.
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LOS
ANGELES
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MELBOURNE
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CHICAGO
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BERLIN
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AMSDERDAM
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SAN
FRANCISCO
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MOSCOW
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FRANKFURT
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ZURICH
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Question:
IS MANILA A GLOBAL
CITY?
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Answer:
MANILA is NOT very global because of the
dearth of foreign residents.
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WHY STUDY GLOBAL CITIES
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1. Globalization is a spatial because it occurs in physical
spaces. More people are driven out of city centers to make
way for the new developments.
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2. Globalization is spatial because what makes it move is the
fact that it is based in places.
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CONCLUSION
Global cities are sites and mediums of globalization. They
are material representation of the phenomenon. Through them,
we see the best of globalization; they are places that generate
tremendous wealth. However, they remain sites of great inequality,
where global servants serve global entrepreneurs.
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Seatwork No. 3:
Question:
Imagine you are the mayor of a rapidly growing city that is
becoming increasingly important on the global stage. You have the
opportunity to implement one major policy to improve the lives of
your citizens and enhance your city's global standing. What policy
would you choose and why? Explain how this policy would
address both the benefits and challenges of being a global city.
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GLOBAL DEMOGRAPHY
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DEMOGRAPHY
demo - meaning the people
graphy - measurement
Demography - is the statistical
study of human popul at i ons.
Demography examines the size,
structure, and movements of
populations over space and time.
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When couples are asked why
they have children, their
answer are almost always,
about their feelings.
For most, having a child is the symbol of a
successful union. It also ensures that the family will
have a success or generation that will continue its name.
However , there are few who worry how much
strain a child can bring to the household as he or she
competes for the parents attention and how much
energy the family needs to shower its love to an
additional member.
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QUESTION:
Will a child be an economic asset or burden to
the family?
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RURAL x URBAN FAMILIES
• Rural Communities often welcome an extra hand
to help in crop cultivation, particularly during the
planting and harvesting seasons.
• The poorer districts of urban centers also tend to
have families with more children because the
success and their small family business depends on
how many of their members can be hawking their
wares on the streets.
• Urbanized, educated, and professional families
with two incomes, however, desire just one or two
progenies.
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RURAL x URBAN FAMILIES
• These families also have sights on long term
savings plan. They set aside significant parts of
their incomes for their retirement, health care, and
the future education of their children.
• Rural families view multiple children and large
kinship networks as critical investments.
• Urban families, however may not have the same
kinship network anymore because couples live on
their own, or because they move out of the
farmland. It is usually the basic family unit that is
left to deal with life challenges on its own.
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• These differing versions of family life determine the economic and social
policies that countries craft regarding their respective populations.
• Countries in the less developed regions of the world that rely on
agriculture tend to maintain high levels of population growth.
• Urban populations have grown, but not necessarily because families are
having more children. It is rather the combination of the natural
outcome of significant migration to the cities by people seeking work in
the more modern sectors of society.
• International migration also plays a part. Today, 191 million peole live in
countries other than their own, and the United Nations projects that
over 2.2 million will move from the developing world to the world to the
first World countries.
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THE PERILS OF OVERPOPULATION
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1. Environmental Strain: A larger population puts immense
pressure on natural resources. This includes:
• Depletion of resources: Increased demand for food, water,
and energy leads to depletion of finite resources like forests,
water sources, and fossil fuels.
• Pollution: Overpopulation contributes to increased pollution
levels, including air, water, and soil contamination. This harms
ecosystems and human health.
• Climate change: Increased population often means higher
greenhouse gas emissions, accelerating climate change and its
devastating effects.
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2. Social and Economic Challenges: Overpopulation can
exacerbate social and economic issues, leading to:
• Poverty and inequality: Competition for resources can
intensify poverty and inequality, particularly in developing
countries.
• Unemployment and economic instability: Overpopulation
can lead to unemployment and economic instability,
particularly if the population growth outpaces economic
development.
• Urban sprawl and congestion: Increased population density
can lead to urban sprawl, traffic congestion, and inadequate
infrastructure.
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3. Food security: As the population grows, so does the
demand for food. Overpopulation can lead to food
shortages and increased food prices.
4. Health Risks: Overpopulation can strain healthcare
systems and lead to:
• Disease outbreaks: Overcrowding and poor sanitation
can increase the risk of disease outbreaks.
• Limited access to healthcare: Limited resources can lead
to insufficient healthcare facilities and services,
particularly for marginalized communities.
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Politics determine these birth control programs.
Developed countries justify their support for
population control in developing countries by
depicting the latter as conservative societies.
Examples:
• Population experts blamed the irresponsible fecundity of
Egyptians for that nations run on population growth.
• The Iranian peasants natural libidinal tendencies for the
same rise in population
• Muslims as hypersexual and hyper fecund an hence a
drain on resources
• Forced sterilization of 20 million violators of the Chinese
governments One Child Policy
• Vietnam and Mexico also conducted coercive masss
sterilization.
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The use of population control to prevent
economic crisis has its critics.
• Neo Malthusianism refers to the belief that
population control through the use of contraception is
essential for the survival of the earths human
population.
• Others pointed out that the population did grow fast in
many countries in the 1960s and this growth aided
economic development by spurring technological and
institutional innovation and increasing the supply of
human ingenuity.
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The use of population control to prevent
economic crisis has its critics.
• Betsy Hartmann disagrees with the advocates of neo
Malthusian theory and accused governments of using
population control as a substitute for social justice and
much needed reforms such as land distribution,
employment creation, provision of mass education and
healthcare.
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Advances in agricultural production have shown that
the Malthusian nightmare can be prevented.
• The Green Revolution created high yielding varieties
of r i c e a n d o t h e r c e r e a l s , a n d a l o n g w i t h t h e
development of new methods of cultivation increased
yields globally, but more particularly in the developing
world.
• Between 1950 and 1984, global grain production
increased by over 250 percent, allowing agriculture to
keep pace with population growth, thereby keeping
global famine under control.
• Scholars and policymakers agree with Neo-
Malthusian but suggest that if governments pursue
population control programs, they must include more
inclusive growth and greener economic growth.
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• A similar pattern occurred in Ghana after the
government expanded reproductive health laws out of
the same concern as that of the Bolivian government.
As a result, fertility declined steeply and continued to
declined after 1994.
• In 2014, the United Nations noted that the
proportion of countries allowing abortion to
preserve the physical health of a woman increased
from 63% to 67%, and those to preserve the
mental health of a woman increased from 52% to
64%.
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• Unfailing pressure by Christian groups compelled the
governments of Poland, Croatia, Hungary, Yugoslavia
and even Russia to impose restrictive reproductive
health programs, including making access to condoms
and other technologies.
• Muslim countries do not condone abortion and
limit wives to domestic chores.
• Senegal only allows abortion when the mothers life is
threatened.
• The Philippines, with a Catholic majority, now has a
reproductive health law but conservative politicians
have enfeebled it through budget cuts.
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• The decline in fertility and existence of a young productive
population, however, may not be enough to offset this
concern over food security.
• The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that
in order for countries to mitigate the impact of population
growth, food production must increase by 70%, annual
cereal production must rise to 3 billion tons from the
current 2.2 billion, and yearly meat production must
go up to 200 million tons to reach 470 million.
• The FAO recommends that countries should increase
their investment in agriculture, craft long term policies
aimed at fighting poverty, and invest in research and
development.
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• The UN body also suggests that countries development a
comprehensive social service program that includes food
assistance, a consistent delivery of health services, and
education especially for the poor.
• The FAO enjoins governments to keep their markets open, and to
eventually move towards a global trading system that is fair and
competitive and that contributes to dependable market for food.
• The aforementioned are worthy recommendations but nation
states shall need the political will to push through these sweeping
changes in population growth and food security.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
The greatest glory in living lies not in
never falling, but in rising every time we
fall."
- Nelson Mandela
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