Global
Population
& Mobility
Module 4
Guess the
Place!
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Global City
Definition
• Otherwise known as: Alpha City,
World Center, or World City
• It is a hub in the global economic
network.
• Centers of innovation and business
Saskia Sassen
• Professor of Sociology
• Discussed that global cities serve as
“major nodes” in the world’s
network of information and money
through specialized businesses such
as financial institutions, consulting
firms, accounting firms, law firms,
and media organizations
Examples
New York London
Examples
Tokyo Beijing
Essential Traits
• Presence of international financial • Domination of trade and economy
services of a large surrounding area
• Headquarters of several • Major manufacturing centers with
multinational corporations port and container facilities
• Financial headquarters, stock • Considerable decision-making
exchange, and major financial power daily at a global level
institutions
Essential Traits
• Centers of new ideas and • High quality educational institutions
innovation in business, economics,
culture, and politics
• Multi-functional infrastructure that
offers the best legal, medical, and
• Focalpoint of media and entertainment facilities in the world
communication for global networks
• High diversity in language, culture,
• High percentage of residents religion, and ideologies
employed in the services and the
information sector
Ranks of Global Cities (Beaverstock et al., (1999))
• Alpha ++ (most integrated with the global economy, like London and NY)
• Alpha + (primary cities in the global economic network, like (HK, Singapore,
Shanghai, Beijing, Dubai, Paris, Tokyo)
• Alpha cities (those with huge role/relevance in the international community, like
Toronto, Mexico City, Moscow, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur)
• Beta Cities (those with moderate economic connection with the world economy)
• Gamma cities (those with minor economic connection with the world economy)
Challenges of Global Cities
Employment Enducation
• To create and sustain decent jobs as • To provide access to quality
the working-age population education
continues to rise
Challenges of Global Cities
Youth Livelihoods Health
• To provide not only provide • To provide free, accessible, and
decent-paying jobs, but also provide quality healthcare
meaning, promote interest, and a
sense of social contribution to its
employees
Challenges of Global Cities
Transport Inclusive Communities
• To provide accessible, efficient, and • To be socially inclusive not only for
affordable mass transportation. migrant communities, but also to
women and other marginalized
• Issue: Privatization of transport
sectors
system
Challenges of Global Cities
Sustainable Environment Affordable Housing
• To move towards mitigating the • To provide housing low-income
effects of climate change and families residing in urban areas
improving the quality of life of its
present and future citizens
Challenges of Global Cities
Global Cities and the Poor Urban vs. Rural
• As wealth-producing machines, • Urban spaces offer opportunities
cities have always had some form of that are otherwise unavailable in
inequality. more rural areas
• Global cities offer an opportunity
for upward social mobility
The Plight of the OFWs
• Skilled labor migration refers to
the migration of skilled
professionals from developing
countries.
• Brain Drain: migration of
educated professionals and skilled
labor migrants
What Are Your Thoughts About This?
What Are Your Thoughts
About This?
Special Topics
In The Contemporary World
HUMAN RIGHTS
• Human rights are rights
inherent to all human beings,
regardless of race, sex,
nationality, ethnicity, language,
religion, or any other status.
HUMAN RIGHTS
• Universal Declaration of
Human Rights (UDHR) or the
Magna Carta of Humanity
• Adopted on December 10, 1948
• 1 preamble and 30 Articles
• Fundamental constitutive
document of the UN
ALTERNATIVE MEDIA
• Alternative media are sources
that differ from established or
dominant types of media (such as
mainstream media or mass
media)
DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
• Propaganda
• Fake News
• Historical Distortion
• Disinformation
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
• The Sustainable Development
Goals are the blueprint to
achieve a better and more
sustainable future for all.
FOOD SECURITY/INSECURITY
• Food security exists when all
people, at all times, have
physical, social, and economic
access to sufficient, safe, and
nutritious food which meets
their dietary needs and food
preferences for an active and
healthy life.
