![]() In the 1960s and 70s, the rites of passage involved the national acquisition of steel plants and hydro-electric dams. But it has taken new forms in the era of globalization. ‘Catch up’, or competitive modernization, has a long history, from the ‘rise’ of would-be imperial powers in the nineteenth century to that of their former colonies in the mid-twentieth. And although top cities in China significantly outperform those in India, competition is tightening.’ footnote 2 ‘While European cities prevail today, North American cities show greater potential, especially in innovation. ‘The race for global city status is accelerating’, enthuses atk. ![]() Kearney rank urban conglomerates in terms of business activity, human capital, innovation and personal well-being. The ‘global city’ rankings put out by the American management-consultancy firm A. ![]() footnote 1 Who defines what ‘world-class’ means? The annual Global Cities report put out by estate agents Knight Frank conflates it with ‘global’, which in turn glorifies cities that prioritize profit-maximization and attracting talented professionals. Subsequent planning documents reiterated the tagline: ‘a world-class city, with service deliverables and efficiencies that meet world best practice’-‘a world-class African city for all’. I n 2000, the new City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality announced its goal of becoming ‘an African world-class city’, with increased prosperity and economic growth for all. ![]()
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