World CitiesWorld Cities

Primary sources:Primary sources:Mike Savage & Alan WardeMike Savage & Alan Warde

Saskia SassenSaskia Sassen

Uneven urban developmentUneven urban development

division of labor is division of labor is fundamental to fundamental to industrial capitalismindustrial capitalism• within firms & factorieswithin firms & factories• within cities & regionswithin cities & regions• between cities & between cities &

regionsregions Division of labor at a Division of labor at a

large scale (“world large scale (“world system”) accounts for system”) accounts for uneven urban uneven urban developmentdevelopment

“The dynamics of the world system affect the way that cities develop and decline. A recognition of this belies a linear historical view of urban differentiation—where different urban forms are reflections of the specific period which any given city has reached in an evolutionary urban cycle—implying instead that spatial dynamics of the world system profoundly shape urban form.”

Savage & Warde, p.268

“Information technologies, often thought of as neutralizing geography, actually contribute to spatial concentration. They make possible the geographic dispersal and simultaneous integration of many activities. But the particular conditions under which such facilities are available have promoted centralization of the most advanced users in the most advanced telecommunications centers.”Saskia Sassen, p.209

A Typology of CitiesA Typology of Cities

Global Cities (World Cities)Global Cities (World Cities) Declining Industrial CitiesDeclining Industrial Cities New Industrial DistrictsNew Industrial Districts Third World CitiesThird World Cities Socialist CitiesSocialist Cities

Tokyo-YokohamaTokyo-Yokohama JapanJapan 31.8 million31.8 million 0.48%0.48%

SeoulSeoul S. KoreaS. Korea 20.720.7 1.761.76

JakartaJakarta IndonesiaIndonesia 19.919.9 2.992.99

Mexico CityMexico City MexicoMexico 19.519.5 1.731.73

New YorkNew York U.S.U.S. 19.519.5 0.800.80

Sao PauloSao Paulo BrazilBrazil 18.118.1 1.801.80

MumbaiMumbai IndiaIndia 17.417.4 2.432.43

Osaka-Kobe-KyotoOsaka-Kobe-Kyoto JapanJapan 17.417.4 0.270.27

Delhi-New DelhiDelhi-New Delhi IndiaIndia 16.716.7 3.973.97

KolkataKolkata IndiaIndia 15.115.1 1.601.60

ManilaManila PhilippinesPhilippines 15.015.0 3.423.42

Los AngelesLos Angeles U.S.U.S. 14.514.5 0.970.97

MoscowMoscow RussiaRussia 14.214.2 0.330.33

Buenos AiresBuenos Aires ArgentinaArgentina 13.713.7 1.181.18

CairoCairo EgyptEgypt 13.713.7 1.841.84

LondonLondon U.K.U.K. 12.712.7 0.680.68

ShanghaiShanghai ChinaChina 12.512.5 1.261.26

Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro BrazilBrazil 11.311.3 1.421.42

World Cities of Various RanksWorld Cities of Various Ranks

J.V. Beaverstock, R.G. Smith and P.J. Taylor: A Roster of World Cities

World CitiesWorld Cities

Maintain an economic hinterland that Maintain an economic hinterland that reaches beyond the borders of the statereaches beyond the borders of the state

Acts as a control point for international Acts as a control point for international flows of capital and informationflows of capital and information

Attract the headquarters of transnational Attract the headquarters of transnational corporations and producer services corporations and producer services companiescompanies

Attract wide range of workers leading to Attract wide range of workers leading to extreme income gapsextreme income gaps

Henry Wagner: http://www.henrywagner.org/pictures/NYC/Air/air_031.htm

Any question where this is?

Tokyo-Yokohama, Japan

Tokyo-Yokohama, Tokyo-Yokohama, JapanJapan

Thanks to YWAM:

http://www.urban-ministries.org/Tokyog.htm

Singapore

Third World CitiesThird World Cities Generally third world countries have a city that is Generally third world countries have a city that is

muchmuch larger than the rest of the cities in the larger than the rest of the cities in the country …called a “primate city”country …called a “primate city”

why do they form?why do they form?• colonialism (infrastructure development, especially colonialism (infrastructure development, especially

railroads & ports)railroads & ports)• post-colonial investment by outsiderspost-colonial investment by outsiders• political and economic instability related directly or political and economic instability related directly or

indirectly to external manipulationindirectly to external manipulation• population pressure related to external involvementpopulation pressure related to external involvement

Massive influx of people to the primate city leads Massive influx of people to the primate city leads to squatter settlements and grossly inadequate to squatter settlements and grossly inadequate servicesservices

Mexico CityMexico City

Poor Children in CalcuttaPoor Children in Calcutta

http://students.seattleu.edu/clubs/calcutta/images/Indians/075.jpg

Favelas Favelas (Latin American squatter settlements)(Latin American squatter settlements)

Dimensions of the problemDimensions of the problem 31% of the world 31% of the world

population now lives population now lives in areas classified as in areas classified as “slums” by the UN“slums” by the UN

In the least developed In the least developed countries (most of countries (most of sub-saharan Africa sub-saharan Africa plus various Asian plus various Asian countries such as countries such as Afghanistan and Afghanistan and Bangladesh) 78% of Bangladesh) 78% of the population lives in the population lives in slumsslums

Lagos

Nairobithanks to: www.yourdotcomforafrica.com

http://www.marekinc.com/PhotosHeadllines2002.html

Some 400 to 600 Some 400 to 600 million people on million people on the planet (more the planet (more than the than the population of the population of the US) are squatters, US) are squatters, i.e. no legal claim i.e. no legal claim to the land they to the land they live onlive on

Rickshaw Drivers, DelhiRickshaw Drivers, Delhi

http://www.madspedersen.com/exhibition.php?function=largearchive&photoid=654

Workers in the “informal sector”

“There is a whole infrastructure of low-wage, non-professional jobs and activities that constitutes a crucial part of the so-called corporate economy.”

“Many of the devalued sectors of the urban economy actually fulfill crucial functions for the center, …”

Saskia Sassen, p.211

Who works in the “informal sector”?Who works in the “informal sector”?

CleanersCleaners TradespersonsTradespersons Cooks & dishwashersCooks & dishwashers Tailors & Tailors &

seamstressesseamstresses Manual assemblyManual assembly Construction workersConstruction workers Many other jobsMany other jobs All unregistered, off All unregistered, off

the books, untaxed, the books, untaxed, and often staffed with and often staffed with illegal immigrantsillegal immigrants

How important is the informal How important is the informal sector?sector?

New York City sweatshops in 1981: 3000New York City sweatshops in 1981: 3000 Sweatshop workers: some 50,000Sweatshop workers: some 50,000 Homeworkers in garment industry: perhaps Homeworkers in garment industry: perhaps

10,00010,000

Saskia Sassen, “New York City’s Informal Economy,” paper Saskia Sassen, “New York City’s Informal Economy,” paper presented at the Conference on Comparative Ethnicity, Los presented at the Conference on Comparative Ethnicity, Los Angeles, 1988.Angeles, 1988.

Declining Industrial CitiesDeclining Industrial Cities

cities that grew and matured early in the cities that grew and matured early in the industrial era (1840s-1920s)industrial era (1840s-1920s)

some have declined and some have declined and restructuredrestructured, , others are still in declineothers are still in decline

most have landscapes marked with the most have landscapes marked with the relics of industry: abandoned canals, relics of industry: abandoned canals, empty warehouses, collapsing factory empty warehouses, collapsing factory buildings, heaps of toxic waste, collapsing buildings, heaps of toxic waste, collapsing underground tanks, etc.underground tanks, etc.

Nostalgic …

… or haunted?

Thanks to Tim Edensor: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/humanities_and_soc_sciences/te1/index.php

Thanks to Tim Edensor: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/humanities_and_soc_sciences/te1/index.php

Thanks to Tim Edensor: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/humanities_and_soc_sciences/te1/index.php

Thanks to Tim Edensor: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/humanities_and_soc_sciences/te1/index.php

The Fabulous Ruins of Detroit: http://detroityes.com/industry/28pacpan.htm

“…peripheralization processes are occurring inside areas that were once conceived of as ‘core’ areas—whether at the global, regional, or urban level—and … alongside the sharpening of peripheralization processes, centrality has also become sharper at all three levels.”

Saskia Sassen, p.210

New Industrial DistrictsNew Industrial Districts

Not primarily associated with citiesNot primarily associated with cities• may be limited to a particular district of a citymay be limited to a particular district of a city• may lie outside the municipal jurisdiction of a may lie outside the municipal jurisdiction of a

city, or at the boundary of several jurisdictionscity, or at the boundary of several jurisdictions• may include several citiesmay include several cities

Activity centers around complexes of Activity centers around complexes of office buildings and retail spaces generally office buildings and retail spaces generally close to one or more freewaysclose to one or more freeways

strict separation of housing and other strict separation of housing and other landuseslanduses

Silicon Valley & Route 128Silicon Valley & Route 128 Both looked equally promising in the 1970sBoth looked equally promising in the 1970s Overseas competition in 1980s & afterOverseas competition in 1980s & after Silicon Valley proved to have greater staying Silicon Valley proved to have greater staying

powerpower SV now generates over twice as much revenue as SV now generates over twice as much revenue as

Rt 128Rt 128 Why?Why?

• Dense social networksDense social networks• Open labor marketsOpen labor markets• Experimentation & entrepreneurshipExperimentation & entrepreneurship• Regional production complex vs autonomous firmsRegional production complex vs autonomous firms• Anti-hierarchical and de-centralized firmsAnti-hierarchical and de-centralized firms• Tolerance of spin-offs & returning former employeesTolerance of spin-offs & returning former employees

What went wrong with Rt. 128?What went wrong with Rt. 128?

Conservative corporate mindsetConservative corporate mindset• Secrecy & securitySecrecy & security• Lack of shared knowledgeLack of shared knowledge• Lack of standardsLack of standards• Family-based social worldFamily-based social world• Vertically-integrated companiesVertically-integrated companies

Source: Annalee SaxenianSource: Annalee Saxenian

““Cyberabad” (Hyderabad India)Cyberabad” (Hyderabad India)

Thanks to: http://7wondersofhyderabad.com/photogallery.html

Hyderabad has facilities of IBM, Dell, Microsoft, General Electric and Oracle, & over 200 other software companies

Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh: (Indian state where Hyderabad is located)(Indian state where Hyderabad is located)

Average household income $600Average household income $600 Percent of households with electricity 50%Percent of households with electricity 50% Literacy 50%Literacy 50% Percent of population that has at least a Percent of population that has at least a

high school education 8%high school education 8% Annual number of university graduates in Annual number of university graduates in

science & engineering: 100,000!science & engineering: 100,000! A polarized labor forceA polarized labor force

Data Source: Kyle Eischen, San Jose Mercury News, March 19, 2000Data Source: Kyle Eischen, San Jose Mercury News, March 19, 2000

Cities in Socialist CountriesCities in Socialist Countries

Just emerging from centralized government Just emerging from centralized government management that inhibited urban growthmanagement that inhibited urban growth

Picture varied; prospects not clearPicture varied; prospects not clear

Beijing:

http://www.beijinghighlights.com/photos/gallery.htm

New International Division of LaborNew International Division of Labor

During “industrial era” leading countries During “industrial era” leading countries engaged in industry using engaged in industry using materialsmaterials from from poor regionspoor regions

During “post-industrial era” leading During “post-industrial era” leading countries have specialized in services and countries have specialized in services and financefinance

Poor countries now provide raw materials Poor countries now provide raw materials andand industrial labor that benefit industrial labor that benefit consumers in wealthy countriesconsumers in wealthy countries

Each of the three main world cities is Each of the three main world cities is associated with an economic hinterland, associated with an economic hinterland, though their ties are globalthough their ties are global

Why is Industry Growing in Poor Why is Industry Growing in Poor Countries?Countries?

wages are lowerwages are lower unions are weak or non-existentunions are weak or non-existent standards for workplace safety and workers’ standards for workplace safety and workers’

rights are lowerrights are lower pollution controls are weaker and pollution controls are weaker and

environmentalism is less developedenvironmentalism is less developed transportation and communication have become transportation and communication have become

relatively cheap (so the benefits of off-shore relatively cheap (so the benefits of off-shore production outweigh the costs)production outweigh the costs)

So corporations based in rich countries seek out So corporations based in rich countries seek out untapped resources and labor pools in poor untapped resources and labor pools in poor countriescountries

What sets this picture in What sets this picture in motion?motion?

economic cycleseconomic cycles

Economic RestructuringEconomic Restructuring

Over time, the basis of a region’s economy Over time, the basis of a region’s economy undergoes transformationundergoes transformation• agriculture agriculture → industry→ industry• industry → servicesindustry → services

Such changes occur in cycles or wavesSuch changes occur in cycles or waves Locally, the type of jobs in the job market Locally, the type of jobs in the job market

changeschanges This also reflects changes in distant job This also reflects changes in distant job

markets and growing interdependencemarkets and growing interdependence

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Why is the dependency of rich Why is the dependency of rich countries on poor countries hard to countries on poor countries hard to

perceive?perceive?

Third World cities are not simply “behind” First Third World cities are not simply “behind” First World citiesWorld cities

Looking beyond our borders appears to be looking Looking beyond our borders appears to be looking back in time; in fact, everything that happens back in time; in fact, everything that happens now is interrelated somehownow is interrelated somehow

Structural inequality is masked by the giving of Structural inequality is masked by the giving of aid and the politics of foreign interventionaid and the politics of foreign intervention

Our pity or scorn may provide a means of Our pity or scorn may provide a means of disassociating ourselves from the system that disassociating ourselves from the system that benefits usbenefits us

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

The global capitalist system has created The global capitalist system has created “uneven” urban development“uneven” urban development

The differences between cities reflect an The differences between cities reflect an international division of labor in which international division of labor in which corporate management locates production corporate management locates production and extraction far away from markets in and extraction far away from markets in order to maximize profitsorder to maximize profits