How do we assess whether a city is global? What other criteria could be used?
This essay seeks to identify criteria’s and different aspects to assess what makes a city global. Firstly, it will outline and explain the concept of globalisation and a global city, showing evidence from the use of academic sources and giving examples if necessary. It shall then continue to examine and focus on a specific global destination, discussing different types of aspects to show what criteria’s make up a global city.
Globalisation is a very complex process in which national economies have become more and more integrated and inter dependant towards each other. Global cities are all able to be categorized using a number of different types of methods even though they all share a common ground (Sassen, 1991). There are a number of different types of criteria’s available that make up a global city. These aspects are used in different types of ways to examine whether a city can be considered, identified or revealed as being a global destination. In regards to this, Frieddman (1986) states that global cities are significant destinations that have specific characteristics or functions in terms of economics, political, cultural and connectivity in the global economic system.
Global cities, which can also be referred to as Alpha cities or World cities, play a significant role in regards to the country’s economic status. They have become well known as the centre of the world’s global economy. Global cities have become popular and recognised for the processes of finance and economic trade. When looking for ways to define the term ‘global cities’, it is vital that one takes a look at and studies the economy of the host country. This is due to the fact that global cities have great impact on politics. They are able to not only influence the host country but other many other regions across the globe. This is one of the several major factors that could be used in order to identify the criteria’s when defining global cities.
As previously mentioned, global cities are now known for their business and financial servides. According to Rosemary (2000), global cities can be identified by one of their main characteristics which are international financial institutes, stock exchanges, national firms and financial services. For instance, Lloyds TSB Bank was founded in 1765 in Birmingham City. However, currently its headquarters located in the city of London (clarified by Reuters). This example upholds Rosemary’s claim on global cities and is a very crucial criteria as it is significant when used to identify and recognise global cities as well as separate their identity from the majority of the other cities. Frieddman (1986) stated that global cities are and have become specific ideal destinations for the globe’s largest investments and where they are being made. This also confirms that now indeed these alpha cities are not the centre or publicly known for the production of goods but rather control and provide availabilities of facilities and services that are available to the public. These include things such as global requirements such as banks, festivals, events and public or private higher educational institutes (Sassen, 1991).
Global cities which can also be introduced as Alpha cities or World cities have developed and as a result have become the centre for control, co-ordination and power for global capital (GaWc, 2011) Global cities have more power than a majority of other countries and as a result they are able to function beyond their national and regional borders. They are the ultimate control and command centres (Sassen, 1991). As well as their importance towards the many economic factors, one major criteria that can be used to distinguish and define what a global city is, is their potential and having the power to be able to produce large amounts of both economic and political benefits and capabilities. Global cities do not have to be large in size. For instance, London is a major global city although Delhi in India is 3 times more densely populated that London (The Guardian, 2015). London is known to be large in terms of the diversity of its population. However, it is ultimately all about the function of the city.
Having considered the economic and political factors of global cities, it is clear that they all have a strong network bond and power in regards to channels of distribution. For instance, these cities all possess very high advanced technology which enables them to spread and report news and information to anywhere across the world. In addition, global cities can be defined by the effect or impact they have on culture and society. According to a report on Global change, global cities have become the capital and centre of global management (Nature, 2015).
There are 25 most economically powerful global cities in the world (CityLab, 2011). These include cities such as London, New York, Paris, and Tokyo and so on. To be able to understand the cultural and social impacts globalisation has on these cities, one must look at several different aspects of the city. For instance, the population of a city can tell one much about it. As mentioned previously, it is not about the size of the city but rather its ability to function and its level of development. However, these cities tend to have a very large diverse multicultural population and as a result they imply a vibrant and welcoming environment which will cause the city to seem more attractive to others, especially foreign visitors. These cities are highly developed and criteria that can be used to show this are the significant amount of cultural establishments and institutes. These are things such as museums, art galleries, international and exclusive services such as food and holy religious places of worship. This indicates reasons why many tourists come to visit such cities as these are all classified as typical major tourist attractions.
When trying to assess what makes a city global, the cultural, social, economic and political are all key vital elements that help to discover, shape and define the meaning of global cities as they play a significant role due to their influences. Through the recent years, there have been many cities that have begun to progress and develop rapidly. Cities within the Asian and African continents can very much relate to this. Although, what separates the global cities from the other developing cities is that they are exceptionally powerful due to their level of advancement within different sectors such as technology and transport. This allows them to gain many advantages that others have not yet reached. In terms of the economy they are in a much higher position in the global market. In fact, global cities experience a large amount of inbound tourists and are popular tourist destinations due to their high accessibility (Sassen, 1991).
Global cities in particular experience vast growing populations. For example, London is continuing to expand at a very fast rate (Net Migration Figures, 2015). This can be seen as both being a positive and negative element for the British Government. A positive criterion is that it will be certain that they will remain to keep the connection they share with others around the globe. The negative impact results not only affect the residents of the city of London but also the influx of foreign visitors. Most of the tourists visit during holiday periods. And as such developments continue to occur; they will apply pressure on the government and can cause laws, rules and regulations to be altered and unregulated economic activities. Some cities are so powerful that they control their own country and are becoming nations of their own (The Guardian, 2014).
In conclusion to the question ‘how do we assess whether a city is global, what other criteria’s can be used?’ there have been multiple of aspects that have been measured such as the economic, political, cultural and social impacts in order to help discover, shape and define what a global city is. This essay in no way or form has expressed personal opinion on what aspects should be examined but rather included a well-informed piece of writing on the different types of elements that influence the development of globalisation within a city. Globalisation not only in a city but as a whole is viewed by many as either possessing many concealed benefits or as a misfortunate factor. According to Sorkin (1992), globalisation is one of the main contributors to the loss of and threat of local places and to society as a whole. However, this does not alter the fact that globalisation is happening and its characteristics will continue to appear as long as the globe continues to progress and develop. It is evident that the global cities in particular London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and so on are able to gain many advantages, economic profit and liberalization due to their high position on the global market. They are supported by regional economic activity, infrastructure and their steadily growing diverse population. Indeed global cities have become the centre of economic trade and finance. A fine example of this is the City of London which is the oldest and financial centre of the world (clarified by Telegraph, 2014).

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