In Clash between Nationalism and Globalism, Cities Poised for Greater Leadership Role

Chicago, May 22, 2017 -- As nationalist and globalist movements clash across the world, the global cities that thrive on international connections have an opportunity to play a greater leadership role on the global stage. At the 2017 Chicago Forum on Global Cities, June 7-9, leading foreign policy thinkers and civic and business leaders will convene for an insightful dialogue about the future influence of cities in an increasingly uncertain global order.

“Global cities — like London, New York, Paris, Shanghai, Rio and Chicago — are on the front lines of many of the world’s most pressing challenges and often are critical to finding enduring solutions,” said Ivo H. Daalder, president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. “Given the rise of populism and nationalism, the Chicago Forum provides a timely opportunity to examine and debate the role that global cities need to play in advancing openness and global prosperity.”

Launched in 2015 by the Council on Global Affairs and the Financial Times, the Chicago Forum on Global Cities brings together thought leaders, decisions makers, city leaders, business executives, university presidents, and cultural luminaries to:

• Determine how global cities can respond to the external pressures of globalization in balance with the internal pressures of inequality;
• Identify best practices for tackling security issues, educating tomorrow’s workforce, and using big data to solve problems;
• Share ideas for growing investment, curbing climate change, integrating immigrants, and reducing violence.

“The Chicago Forum on Global Cities has always raised questions and provoked discussion about the role of cities,” said Gillian Tett, U.S. managing editor of the Financial Times. “With great political, economic and social upheavals and uncertainty in today’s world, now is the time to propose innovative solutions and find a path forward.”

This year’s speakers include current or former mayors of Chicago, Rio, Toronto, Amman, Melbourne, Dublin and other global cities, as well as influencers and implementers from across the world, including Carl Bildt, Helen Clark, Richard Florida, Bernard Hogan-Howe, Valerie Jarrett and others. Financial Times journalists including Gillian Tett, Martin Wolf, Edward Luce, Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson and Jamil Anderlini will moderate conversation during the forum.

The Chicago Forum on Global Cities is open to the media and will be live streamed. To register for a media pass, please email Evan Fazio ([email protected]) by June 6.

To learn more, visit ChicagoForum.org, and follow @ChicagoForum and #GlobalCities2017 for updates.   

Generous support for the Chicago Forum on Global Cities is provided by AbbVie and UL as Lead Sponsors; Grant Thornton, Hyatt Hotels Foundation, Motorola Solutions, United Airlines and USG as Supporting Sponsors; and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb5ec111-c049-414d-8e78-50f5ca811abf

Evan Fazio
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
3128217525
[email protected]