In this rapidly changing and urbanizing world, the assumption that cities provide an ideal laboratory environment in addressing some of the most important challenges of the 21st century such as but not limited to inequality, climate change, and political participation has never been more relevant than ever before.
There has never been a better time to reconsider the notion that cities act as proving grounds in our quest for a more equitable and sustainable future, a future that advances ideals of solidarity and resilience for two good reasons: cities will be home for almost 70% of human population in the next 20 or 30 years; cities are for a long time and may always dominate as the nucleus of economic and political power and the melting pot of social and cultural transformations of nations.
By mapping out the emerging principles practiced by diversified groups, dubbed as “citymakers,” Shepard seems to suggest that gone were the days when urbanism is the sole and exclusive domain of city leaders, power brokers and planners. We are instead witnessing a gradually transforming era of cooperative and collaborative city-building undertakings of diverse groups working together to provide better cities for the people.
