Globalization, Changing Cities and Terrorism

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Globalization, Changing Cities and Terrorism
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Global Perspectives

• World Systems Theory (Old School)
• Distinct hierarchy of countries (and cities) in
  the global Capitalist system
• Niches
• Core Countrieseconomically influential
• Periphery Countriesbottom of hierarchy
• Semi-Peripherysomewhere in between
• Is this enough?

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Global Cities

• Defined Large population centers (3 mill) with
  significant connections to other centers of
  international populations. These connections are
  most often in the form of trade and economic
  ties, communication, transportation and ethnic
  diversity
• International borders less significant than
  global character of cities

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Global Cities

• Common Characteristics
• Largest cities in countries
• All main institutions that interact in global
  economy
• Easy to exchange foreign capital
• Examples?

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Other Gradations

• National Centers
• Smaller than global cities, but do business all
  over the country
• Examples?
• Regional Capitals
• Centers of education and government
• Examples?
• Gradations finer than old World Systems Theory
  because these generally exist within world system

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Terrorism and Global Cities

• Connection to terrorism?
• Clearly, global cities are where terror is more
  likely
• Reasons terrorists target global cities
• Crowded large populations
• Global media
• International trade
• Symbolic value
• Londons significance

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Londons Designing Out Terrorism

• Central London Tactics
• Wrought-iron fences
• Walled City
• Non-physical approaches
• Rather covert
• Docklands Tactics
• Similar to downtown
• Advertised methods

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Changes After 9/11

• Intensified old domestic tactics
• New ones
• Target buildings
• Heavy security

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Long-Term Effects?

• How does the presence of a terror threat change
  cities as we know them?
• Fragmentation of urban spatial order
• Urban planning
• Urban flight

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Changing Buildings

• Completed in 1970s, WTC were built during a time
  of American invincibility
• After the attack, we wondered whether the
  skyscraper design was dead

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Changing Buildings

• Americans are very stubborn and are unhappy
  changing their style
• In the rebuilding effort, many of them were
  taller structures (including the winner)

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WTC Memorial Entries
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Tel Aviv Vs. NYC