Pax Urbanica: Cities in Global Networked Civilization

Abstract

The article examines global consequences of the information and communication revolution. One of such consequences is formation of a new social order, key components of which are connectivity and functional geography (connectography). State borders are becoming more permeable for the main flows of the modern economy resources. According to Parag Khanna, this fact leads to the development of a functional infrastructure becoming a reflection of the real-world structure. Connectivity, as a new paradigm of a global organization, replaces the division that is typical for the previous political map of the world. Khanna says that connectography is replacing geography, and cities, including global ones, play a key role on the new world map. The article also analyzes the transformation of global cities, which is described by Saskia Sassen. Specific attention is paid to the need for sustainable urbanization, involving the creation of smart cities and communities, which becomes the base of the infrastructure matrix of a global networked civilization.