Capitales Fatales: Urbanisierung und Politik in den Finanzmetropolen Frankfurt und Zürich
Frankfurt and Zurich – two cities that have a lot in common: both have experienced rapid economic growth in recent decades and now rank second in the global hierarchy of financial centres after London, New York and Tokyo. Urban movements have played a prominent role in both cities. And in recent years, red-green coalitions have ruled on both the Main and the Limmat. The urbanisation process also shows striking parallels, such as the restructuring of the urban periphery and the emergence of polycentric urban megaregions. But while global command functions tower above the centre of Frankfurt, in Zurich they are hidden behind distinguished 19th century façades.
Analysing the background to these developments, highlighting different local experiences and exploring possible perspectives – that is the basic idea of the editors, who have been working together since 1991 as part of the International Network for Urban Research and Action (INURA).
This book about globalisation, urban development and local politics in the financial metropolises of Frankfurt and Zurich actually introduced the global city concept into the German discussion. It contains analyses of social development in Western metropolises, reports on the formation of global cities on the Limmat and Main rivers, and an outlook on the urbanisation process at the end of the twentieth century. With theoretical texts by John Friedmann, Saskia Sassen, Stefan Kipfer, Alain Lipietz, Margit Mayer und Walter Prigge.
International Network for Urban Research and Action (INURA)
Edited by Hansruedi Hitz, Roger Keil, Ute Lehrer, Klaus Ronneberger, Christian Schmid und Richard Wolff