When we think of cities, it’s tempting to picture the skyline first. Concrete towers, cranes in motion, new highways unfolding across the landscape. But the truth is, cities are not

Africa is urbanizing at an unprecedented rate, with its cities expected to double in population by 2050. The question is: how can we build cities, zones, and infrastructure that are

This article will look at some of the theories and suggestions on urban development laid out by Alain Bertaud in his Order without Design. We will first begin with a

In 2005, Gwadar, a small port city on the coast of Balochistan in Southwestern Pakistan, was hailed by some optimists as the next Dubai. 20 years later, despite huge Chinese

Following former President Donald Trump’s victory in the Presidential election, there has been renewed talk of the United States buying Greenland. The idea had previously been floated by the Trump

Hi everyone, It’s CCI’s 7-year anniversary and I am returning to the role of Executive Director. Kurtis Lockhart exceptionally ran CCI for 2.5 years and is now launching the Africa

In 1978, what would become the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (SEZ) contained a population numbering around 100,000. Today, it’s a metropolis home to over 17 million, smaller than only Beijing

On Friday, September 20th, the Honduran Supreme Court declared that ZEDEs are unconstitutional. Notably, this decision applies retroactively, which is an exceptionally odd outcome. ZEDEs or Zones for Employment and

The global urban landscape is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. In almost every country on Earth, comprehensive master-planned cities are being built “from scratch.” These “new cities” are developed for hundreds

In 1960, the per capita GDP of East Asia exceeded that of Sub-Saharan Africa for the first time. That year, the average person in both regions made approximately $1,100 (in

Are all acronyms sinister? Are some acronyms more sinister than others? The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) needs no introduction and its protégé Tiktok is currently under global investigation. The Communist

Each month, the CCI team selects a new book to read and discuss together. Our book club selections cover a wide range of topics that are relevant to charter cities, but they are most often related to development, urban issues, and governance. In this ongoing series, reviewers will offer summaries of the books we’ve read and share some of the highlights from our discussions.

The premier literature award in the UK is the Booker Prize; in 2020 it was won by Scottish writer Douglas Stuart (now resident in the US) for his first novel,

Well, apart from medicine, irrigation, health, roads, cheese and education, baths and the Circus Maximus, what have the Romans ever done for us? (Monty Python and the Life of Brian,

Join our research team on an exploration of the key ideas from notable thinkers in political philosophy, economics, political science, urban planning, and other traditions as they relate to charter cities in our Big Thinkers blog series.

An Introduction To Fumba Town General Introduction Fumba Town is a new city being developed on Zanzibar’s Fumba Peninsula, located 15km south of the Zanzibar International Airport and just a

Each month, the CCI team selects a new book to read and discuss together. Our book club selections cover a wide range of topics that are relevant to charter cities, but they are most often related to development, urban issues, and governance. In this ongoing series, reviewers will offer summaries of the books we’ve read and share some of the highlights from our discussions.

In 2023 I visited Canada for the first time, just to Toronto. To avoid losing any holiday entitlement, I explained to my employers that I was undertaking research. Under the

In 2023, I visited Lusaka, Zambia for two purposes, one of which attracts nodded heads of supportive encouragement for virtuous deeds, and the, other attracts narrowed-eyed glances of suspicion. The

One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. – Virginia Woolf How does a café in the South of India and the history of

Each month, the CCI team selects a new book to read and discuss together. Our book club selections cover a wide range of topics that are relevant to charter cities, but they are most often related to development, urban issues, and governance. In this ongoing series, reviewers will offer summaries of the books we’ve read and share some of the highlights from our discussions.

Welcome back to the last blog post in my Journey of a Banana series! Morning in Lusaka brings with it a familiar sight: fruit sellers. Wheelbarrows, stands, head baskets—each loaded

Welcome back to my Journey of a Banana series. In the last article, I wrote about my interest in Lusaka’s banana sellers and got a sense of how street vending

Each month, the CCI team selects a new book to read and discuss together. Our book club selections cover a wide range of topics that are relevant to charter cities, but they are most often related to development, urban issues, and governance. In this ongoing series, reviewers will offer summaries of the books we’ve read and share some of the highlights from our discussions.

Introduction Massimo Mazzone can have a prickly demeanor. The sixty-year-old Italian businessman is usually abrupt and to the point, especially when discussing business. He is unafraid to raise his voice

Introducción Massimo Mazzone puede tener un carácter áspero. El empresario italiano de sesenta años suele ser brusco y directo, especialmente al hablar de negocios. No teme alzar la voz cuando

Introduction: Ripening Questions There is something about buying fruits and vegetables straight from a street stand. Whenever I travel, I enjoy buying food from street shops while quickly chatting with

Introduction The defining story of the African continent in the twenty-first century is of rapid urbanization, with cities emerging as important centers of economic activity and social transformation. However, too

Jon Vandenheuvel is obsessed. He is obsessed with affordability, auditability, and bankability. According to Jon, these three things are the keys to lifting developing economies out of poverty. Currently, he

This blog series will explore the critical role of charter cities in fostering climate-resilient development across the Global South.

In the face of uncertainty surrounding the future of Kenya’s biggest refugee camps, a transformative approach emerges: turning refugee camps into semi-autonomous cities that offer refugees a second chance at

Join our research team on an exploration of the key ideas from notable thinkers in political philosophy, economics, political science, urban planning, and other traditions as they relate to charter cities in our Big Thinkers blog series.

Old Enough! Is a Japanese TV series that follows young children running their first errand alone. In the first episode of season two, we saw 5-year-old Ken travel to his

This blog series will explore the critical role of charter cities in fostering climate-resilient development across the Global South.

This blog series will explore the critical role of charter cities in fostering climate-resilient development across the Global South.

Each month, the CCI team selects a new book to read and discuss together. Our book club selections cover a wide range of topics that are relevant to charter cities, but they are most often related to development, urban issues, and governance. In this ongoing series, reviewers will offer summaries of the books we’ve read and share some of the highlights from our discussions.

This blog series will explore the critical role of charter cities in fostering climate-resilient development across the Global South.

Join our research team on an exploration of the key ideas from notable thinkers in political philosophy, economics, political science, urban planning, and other traditions as they relate to charter cities in our Big Thinkers blog series.