LONDON a GLOBAL CITY ?

London a long history

5 Items which makes

London a economic and financial power

LONDON

London an international transport hub

GLOBAL CITY

London a new urban spaces

London a cosmopolitan city

What is a global city according Sasskia Sassen? «The organizational side of the global economy materializes in a worldwide grid of strategic places, uppermost among which are major international business and financial centers. We can think of this global grid as constituting a new economic geography of centrality, one that cuts across national boundaries and increasingly across the old North-South divide. It has emerged as a transnational space for the formation of new claims by global capital but also by other types of factors. The most powerful of these new geographies of centrality at the inter-urban level bind the major international financial and business centers: New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Sydney,Hong Kong, among others. But this geography now also includes cities such as Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Bangkok, Taipei, and Mexico City. The intensity of transactions among these cities, particularly through the financial markets, transactions inservices, and investment, has increased sharply, and so have the orders of magnitude involved. [...] The space constituted by the worldwide grid of global cities, a space with new economic and political potentialities, is perhaps one of the moststrategic spaces for the formation of transnational identities and communities. This is a space that is both place-centred in that it is embedded in particular and strategic cities, and trans-territorial because it connects sites that are not geographically proximate yet are intensely linked to each other. It is not only the transmigration of capital that takes place in this global grid but also that of people, both rich—i.e., the new transnational professional workforce—and poor— i.e.,most migrant workers; and it is a space for the transmigration of cultural forms, for the reterritorialisation of ‘local’subcultures. [...] Global cities and the new strategic geographies that connect them and bypass national states can be seenas constituting part of the infrastructure for global civil society.» Saskia Sassen, Global civil society, Chapter 9: global cities and diasporic networks: microsites in global civil society,Oxford University press, 2002. Tool box Grid : réseau Uppermost : le plus haut bind : lier sharply : brutalement

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What is a global city according Sasskia Sassen? «The organizational side of the global economy materializes in a worldwide grid of strategic places, uppermost among which are major international business and financial centers. We can think of this global grid as constituting a new economic geography of centrality, one that cuts across national boundaries and increasingly across the old North-South divide. It has emerged as a transnational space for the formation of new claims by global capital but also by other types of factors. The most powerful of these new geographies of centrality at the inter-urban level bind the major international financial and business centers: New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Amsterdam, Los Angeles, Sydney,Hong Kong, among others. But this geography now also includes cities such as Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Bangkok, Taipei, and Mexico City. The intensity of transactions among these cities, particularly through the financial markets, transactions inservices, and investment, has increased sharply, and so have the orders of magnitude involved. [...] The space constituted by the worldwide grid of global cities, a space with new economic and political potentialities, is perhaps one of the moststrategic spaces for the formation of transnational identities and communities. This is a space that is both place-centred in that it is embedded in particular and strategic cities, and trans-territorial because it connects sites that are not geographically proximate yet are intensely linked to each other. It is not only the transmigration of capital that takes place in this global grid but also that of people, both rich—i.e., the new transnational professional workforce—and poor— i.e.,most migrant workers; and it is a space for the transmigration of cultural forms, for the reterritorialisation of ‘local’subcultures. [...] Global cities and the new strategic geographies that connect them and bypass national states can be seenas constituting part of the infrastructure for global civil society.» Saskia Sassen, Global civil society, Chapter 9: global cities and diasporic networks: microsites in global civil society,Oxford University press, 2002. Tool box Grid : réseau Uppermost : le plus haut bind : lier sharply : brutalement

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Lesson : Globalisation encourages the process of metropolisation. Metropolisation means the concentration of the most qualified population and activities in the largest cities. Among those, some global cities can be distinguished. Saskia Sassen, in the 1980’s theorized “global city” to describe agglomerations that play a major role in the globalisation thanks to their economic and financial functions. The global city is a key place characterized by its connectivity and the concentration of services that allow the control of the world-economy. There is a small difference between a “Global city” and a “world city”, “global city” insists on the economic and financial dimension of the city’s influence and “world city” highlights the cultural power. Then, a global city is a city characterized by: – A high population density and cosmopolitism – A world connectivity _ The concentration of the three main commandment functions: economic power, cultural power, political power.

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London remains the most attractive economic powerhouse for businesses and people in Europe, says a benchmark report. According to a new Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and Citi study, entitled Hot Spots 2025: Benchmarking the Future Competitiveness of Cities, London holds the title as Europe's most competitive city and leading financial centre. London missed out on poll position in the global rankings, beaten only by US' New York. Singapore ranked third, while Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney and Paris followed closely behind. "London's outstanding ability to attract capital, new business, talent and visitors should ensure that it retains its place as the second most competitive city in the world in 2025. The question now for London is what does it take to be the most competitive city in the world? " said Maurice Thompson, Head of Citi in the UK. "London also has to be ready to compete against the fast-growing emerging market cities, many of which are showing very impressive improvements to their competitiveness. "Young Londoners will be part of the next generation of highly skilled workers required to compete on a global scale. There is more work to be done to ensure our city remains attractive to foreign investors and continues to provide the right tools to enable UK business to thrive." London's population is projected to rise from 14.4 million in 2025, from currently 8.6 million. The report says that quality education and healthcare remains one of the city's major draws and a top priority for those who live and work in London. Notably, the report reveals that London is joint first in terms of its financial maturity and global appeal and that the London 2012 Olympics majorly helped to improve public transport infrastructure. The Office of National Statistics data shows that the level of unemployment in London has also fallen to its lowest rate for four years. In March, the ONS revealed that the capital has weathered much of the financial crisis and the robust economy continues to generate tens of thousands of jobs. The number of Londoners without a job fell by 17,000 to reach 365,000 in the three months to January. Unemployment has not been so low since early 2009. Lianna Brinded June 6, 2013, International Business Times - http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/london-economy-best-city-world-citi-eiu-475422

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5 MUST-SEE PLACES IN CITY/COUNTRY

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Pedestrians converge at Bank Junction in the City of London, the original financial district. The Royal Exchange (center) dates to 1571, though it was twice destroyed by fire. It's now a retail destination, drawing shoppers and diners where brokers once gathered. A rising tide of modern monuments, with names like the Cheesegrater (right) and the Scalpel (far right), surrounds the area. Photograph by Luca Locatelli, National Geographic

LONDON TUBE

HEATHROW: What makes a hub airport ?

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Heathrow handled 22.1 million passengers in 2020 compared with the record 80.9 million it had in 2019.

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London’s Green Belt; Designed to prevent sprawl, a ring of open space was designated in 1935 and has been expanded since. Whether or not to allow portions of the Green Belt to be developed for new housing is a subject of debate.

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At nearly 2,000 square miles, the Green Belt is more than three times the size of London. An estimated nine percent is publicly accessible.

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Three decades of growth reinvented the urban landscape in London—and transformed it into the preeminent global city.

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London’s Tall Buildings: What does its new skyline tell about the development of London?

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the UK's first large-scale eco-village

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Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED) is an environmentally friendly housing development in Hackbridge, London, England. It is in the London Borough of Sutton, 2 miles (3 km) north-east of the town of Sutton itself. Designed to create zero carbon emissions, it was the first large scale community to do so.

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London a multicultural city

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Being the largest city in the UK, London is also home to one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world. Approximately 1/3 of Londoners were born abroad and over 200 languages are spoken in the capital. The wide range of cultures and languages are celebrated in London in many different ways – mainly with amazing food and lively festivals.

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