Novara FM: New Cities, Old Scams w/ Quinn Slobodian
Nov 23, 2023
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Canadian historian Quinn Slobodian discusses the history and appeal of new cities being built around the world, exploring topics such as special economic zones, Dubai's innovations, and the ambitions of Saudi Arabia's proposed city of Niam.
Private cities and specialized economic zones offer unique advantages for investors and businesses, but often come at the expense of marginalized workers and systemic inequalities.
The concept of sovereignty is being challenged and reimagined in private cities and zones, with a focus on individual choice and financial contribution over birthright or nationality.
The rise of private cities and economic zones reflects a broader trend of challenging traditional state sovereignty and governance models in favor of market-driven, privatized systems.
Deep dives
The Rise of Private Cities and Zones
Private cities and specialized economic zones are becoming increasingly prevalent in the modern world. These areas operate with their own rules and regulations, often separate from traditional nation-state governance. They cater to specific industries, sectors, or economic activities and offer unique advantages for investors and businesses. This trend can be traced back to historical precedents, such as company towns and the colonial-era enclaves. Private cities like Neom in Saudi Arabia and special economic zones like those in Honduras exemplify this phenomenon on a grand scale. These projects combine cutting-edge technological advancements, luxury amenities, and attract global capital, but their success often comes at the expense of marginalized workers and systemic inequalities.
The Transformation of Sovereignty
The concept of sovereignty is being challenged and reimagined in the context of private cities and zones. These zones seek to minimize democratic accountability and governance in favor of a more market-driven approach. They aim to attract foreign investors and skilled professionals by offering unique legal, regulatory, and tax advantages. The vision driving these projects is rooted in a belief that traditional notions of sovereignty and nation-states are outdated and inefficient. Instead, proponents advocate for a system where citizenship is based on individual choice and financial contribution, rather than birthright or nationality. This paradigm shift raises concerns about the erosion of public interests, accountability, and social justice.
The Convergence of Libertarian Ideals and Global Capital
The rise of private cities and economic zones aligns with ideological libertarian principles and the pursuit of global capital. Libertarian thinkers, such as Patrick Schumacher, envision urban spaces detached from democratic decision-making, emphasizing the primacy of individual freedom and unregulated markets. These projects often cater to an elite class, creating exclusive enclaves that prioritize luxury, technology, and personal autonomy. They tend to operate outside conventional notions of citizenship, labor rights, and social welfare, leading to stark inequalities and exploitative labor practices. The proliferation of private cities and zones reflects a broader trend of challenging traditional state sovereignty and governance models in favor of market-driven, privatized systems.
The concept of exit, voice, or loyalty
The podcast explores the concept of exit, voice, or loyalty as proposed by Hirschman. It discusses how individuals can choose to either exit a relationship or organization, use their voice to pressure for change, or remain loyal despite disagreements. The concept is applied to corporations, states, and nations, highlighting the importance of democratic processes and the limitations of the exit option.
The rise of private cities and zone-based politics
The podcast discusses the rise of private cities and zone-based politics as a form of political affiliation and identity. It mentions Dubai as an example of a city-state that has customized its jurisdictional entities to attract investors. It also explores the idea of using social media platforms and fandoms as a basis for building political communities. The podcast acknowledges the challenges and limitations of these zone-based projects, highlighting the role of power, military force, and the need for larger guarantors of security in their realization.
Business is booming for architects and property investors right now, with masterplans being unveiled for dozens of new cities around the world. The hi-tech promise of NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s proposed new desert metropolis, is only the most discussed of these visions – others are being drawn up in Indonesia, China and Senegal. What sets these […]
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