vii Series Foreword In William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Coriolanus, the character Sicin- ius poses the question, “What is the city but the people?”1 According to the United Nations, our global cities are made up of more than half of the people in the world, with a projection that 60 percent of the world’s popu- lation will be living in urban centers by 2030.2 But diving deeper than pop- ulation statistics, Sicinius was right—the heart of a city is not in its architecture or green spaces, nor is it in its stores, restaurants, Wall Streets, or red-light districts. The heart of a city is found in the people that live there, their diversity and unity, and the strong heartbeat that makes the city unique and loved by visitors and natives alike. What is it like to live in these global centers, the main hubs of countries and regions, where industries thrive, immigrants settle, and traditions evolve? The Contemporary World Cities series examines the world’s major urban centers—from Tokyo to Mexico City, Beijing to London, and Mos- cow to Paris. Each volume focuses on one major global city, incorporating information on the host country, but honing in on the urban center itself. Volumes begin with a preface and chronology of major events that have occurred in the city, followed by chapters covering the following topics: Location People History Politics Economy Environment and Sustainability Local Crime and Violence Security Issues
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