World City Network: A Global Urban Analysis

by Peter J. Taylor

With the advent of multinational corporations, the traditional urban service function has 'gone global'. In order to provide services to globalizing corporate clients, the offices of major financial and business service firms across the world have formed a network. It is the myriad of flows between office towers in different metropolitan centres that has produced a world city network.

Through an analysis of the intra-company flows of 100 leading global service firms across 315 cities, this book assesses cities in terms of their overall network connectivity, their connectivity by service sector, and their connectivity by world region.

Peter Taylor's unique and illuminating book provides the first comprehensive and systematic description and analysis of the world city network as the 'skeleton' upon which contemporary globalization has been built. His analyses challenge the traditional view of the world as a 'mosaic map' of political boundaries.

Written by one of the foremost authorities on the subject, this book provides a much needed mapping of the connecting relationships between world cities, and will be an enlightening book for students of urban studies, geography, sociology and planning.

Genres: Urban Studies

Paperback

First published September 4, 2003

Reviews

[Alex Csicsek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Taylor argues that attempts to study "the city" misses the point - the truth lies in analysis of global networks between cities. Interesting read but one which has all the flaws of the "globalization is changing everything!" literature, including a complete and utter disregard for the non-economic roles of the state.