WHY WE NEED GLOBAL CITIES
A groundbreaking blueprint for tomorrow.
The refugee question is a topic that features prominently in the media, in private conversations, and in fiercely divisive political debates across the world. What we propose with free Global Cities, such as the Andan Global City, are autonomous, sub-national entities, where individuals and families who have been forced to flee their homes are welcomed into a safe environment where they can thrive, rather than merely survive — an innovative concept that is both humanitarian and profitable, that will create wealth and prosperity for citizens as well as for the nations hosting them.
Text: Dr. Christian H. Kaelin Illustration: Marcellus Hall
It is a sobering reality that there are over 32 million refugees and over 103 million forcibly displaced people according to the UN Refugee Agency’s (UNHCR) latest statistics. The figures have doubled over the past decade, and due to the climate crisis and outbreaks of war the number of forcibly displaced people is snowballing. More than 70% of refugees are fleeing conflict, with the majority from Syria, Venezuela, and Ukraine. Notably four of the top five host nations, Türkiye, Colombia, Germany, Pakistan, and Uganda, are developing countries.
GOING HOME IS NOT ALWAYS AN OPTION
The reality for many refugees is that they are likely to live in barely humane conditions in poorly managed camps for years, or at worst decades, facing the misery of poverty, disease, and crime. If they cannot be accommodated in a host nation, the next solution is repatriation. Unfortunately, for many, returning to their countries of origin is not a viable option, especially if they are fleeing famine, ongoing war, or an uninhabitable environment.
Countries such as Canada, New Zealand, and the USA have to some degree effectively managed the delicate process of integration, an alternative to repatriation. However, in today’s political climate, local integration is becoming the less favored solution as it stirs up heated deliberations by growing pockets of society that fear the effect that new migrants will have on their current socio-economic fabric. This closed-door policy and resistance to change is becoming evident even in countries that historically were founded on the backs of migrant workers.
Though not a widely implemented solution, resettlement, which is the transfer of refugees to a third country, which grants them permanent residence, is yet another option. It is not a popular choice and requires multi-lateral government collaboration, therefore to date its success has been rather limited. Looking ahead, as the refugee crisis continues to escalate, an innovative solution is crucial, which is why I advocate for global cities, where refugees are welcome.
REDEFINING REFUGEES
As celebrated Afghan-American novelist Khaled Hosseini aptly said at the launch of the UNHCR’s #WithRefugees initiative, “refugees are mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children, with the same hopes and ambitions as us — except that a twist of fate has bound their lives to a global refugee crisis on an unprecedented scale.” Refugees exemplify bravery and resilience. They want to over- come the obstacles that caused them to leave
their homes and seek refuge abroad. Rather than being considered as a problem or a bur- den, refugees should instead be perceived as the skilled and talented individuals they are — an untapped resource, diligent, human ingenuity readily available to work, to pro- duce, to create.
A MODEL FOR THE FUTURE
As far back as the Middle Ages there were zones and somewhat autonomous global cities established in Europe and Asia, metropolises erected from the ground up that emerged from migration. The Andan Global City builds on that concept and will lead to even greater human development. It requires a public–private partnership that delivers a win–win situation, benefiting the host country as well as private investors who are willing to create a climate resilient and sustainable city that is home to forcibly displaced people, a city that respects our biodiversity while incorporating avant-garde technology. The quest to establish the first free Global City would serve as a blueprint for future Global Cities. Cities that have the business pace of Singapore, the modernity of Dubai, and the cosmopolitan flair of Lisbon — well-managed investments that in addition to delivering a second chance for refugees, lead to increased productivity, a growing GDP to the host country, returns to private stakeholders, and a home for anyone who chooses to invest in them.