About the Book
This book proposes a new solution to the problem of the migration crisis engulfing the world by creating safe harbours, or Free Global Cities.
In the face of the largest displacement crisis on record even the most optimistic view of the future suggests that in the years ahead, more and more people will migrate in order to survive. The world requires places where refugees and other migrants forced to leave their homes have the opportunity to work, study, create, start businesses, and rebuild new lives for themselves and their families.
Free Global Cities can deal with this growing global crisis in a completely new way. They are autonomous, self-governed subnational entities that provide a safe environment and rule of law that will create wealth and prosperity for its residents as well as for the nations hosting them. Such a model would contribute significantly to handle the largest migration crisis in history, which the world will be experiencing in the coming decades.
Table of Contents:
Preface, Kishore Mahbubani (National University of Singapore)
Introduction, Christian H Kälin (Andan Foundation, Switzerland)
Part One: The Migration Crisis
1. Reforming the International Refugee Regime, Thomas Alexander Aleinikoff (Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility, USA), Leah Zamore (Humanitarian Policy Centre on International Cooperation, USA), and Emmanuel Guerisoli (Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility, USA)
2. What Borders Do We Need? Mohamed Nasheed, (Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum; Former President of the Maldives, Maldives)
3. Climate Migration Will Accelerate the Need for Free Global Cities, Parag Khanna (AlphaGeo, Singapore)
Part Two: A Place to Build a Future
4. The Philosophical Idea of Cities and States, Marek Urban (Pontifical University of John Paul II, Poland)
5. Cities: The Future Leaders in Public Governance, Michael Møller (United Nations, Switzerland)
6. How to Build a Good Country – or a Good City, Simon Anholt (Independent Policy Advisor, UK)
7. Small, Smart States as a Model for the Future, Armen Sarkissian (Former Prime Minister and former President of Armenia, UK)
8. Cities, not Camps, Günter Nooke (Former German Human Rights Commissioner and Angela Merkel's Special Envoy for Africa, Germany)
9. Free Private Cities: A New Operating System for Living Together, Titus Gebel (Tipolis, Singapore)
10. Inclusive Development Zones: A Model for Supporting the Spontaneous Order of Informal Economies, Michael Castle Miller (Albright Stonebridge Group, USA)
Part Three: Planning and Implementing a Free Global City
11. Planning New Cities and Isobenefit Urbanism, Lucad’Acci (Politecnico Torino, Italy)
12. Challenges of Urban Management: Addressing Key City Planning Issues, Eckart Würzner (Heidelberg, Germany)
13. The Importance of the Rule of Law, Michael Esfeld (University of Lausanne, Switzerland)
14. Independent and Effective Dispute Resolution: Courts, Arbitration, Conciliation, Mediation, Andreas Baumgartner and Mark Beer (Metis Institute, UAE)
15. Free Global Cities: A Tool to Overcome the Citizenship Apartheid?, Dimitry Kochenov (CEU Democracy Institute, Hungary)
16. Citizenship and Human Rights in Autonomous Cities, Christian H Kälin (Andan Foundation, Switzerland)
17. Immigration Policy for an Open City-State, Mikael Ribbenvik Cassar (The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), Swedish Migration Agency, Sweden)
18. Monetary Systems for Self-Governed Cities: Blockchain-Based Currency will Change the Way of Money, Andrej Majcen (Bitcoin Suisse, UAE)
19. Railway and Public Transit Systems, Petros Arvanitis (Trainose SA, Greece)
20. How to Build a World-Class Health Care System, Paul Robert Vogt (EurAsiaHeart Foundation, Switzerland)
21. Sustainable and Efficient Housing Construction, Benno Büeler (CitraGroup, Switzerland)
22. Large Residential Development: The Challenges and Opportunities, Samih Sawiris (Orascom Development Holding AG, Switzerland)
23. Next Generation Energy Security, Götz Ruprecht (Dual Fluid Energy Inc., Canada)
24. Education as the Basis for Future Growth, Andreas Schleicher (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, France)
25. Vocational Training and Skills Development, Franz Probst (Skillsonics, Switzerland), Barbara Haering (Member of Advisory Board, Switzerland) and Ken Duncan (SkillSonics, South Africa)
26. How to Build a World-Class University, Tan Eng Chye and Terence Poon (National University of Singapore)
27. Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) or How to Build a Successful Financial Centre Free Zone, Andreas Baumgartner (StIR, UAE)
28. Sandy Springs: The City Based on Private Services, Oliver Porter ( City of Sandy Springs, USA)
29. Building Liveable Cities: Singapore’s Path to Success, Khoo Teng Chye (National University of Singapore)
About the Author :
Christian H Kälin is Chairman of Henley & Partners, UK, as well as the Founder and Chairman of the Andan Foundation, a Swiss humanitarian organization focused on supporting displaced people.
Review :
A breakthrough. This book is the blueprint to solve the international refugee crisis. Dr. Kaelin could well be called the Henry Dunant of our time.
With record numbers of people displaced and challenges around migration accumulating, new and unprejudiced approaches are badly needed. This book shows what needs to happen for cities to become hubs for sustainable solutions. This is not only a bold vision, but a practical roadmap, which leaves no taboo un-touched and no stone un-turned. A thought-provoking study with the hope to facilitate political decision-making: paradigm shift at its best.
Visionary and grounded in a profound sense of humanity, this book presents a hopeful blueprint for the future. It outlines a path forward, demonstrating how, with courage and a clear vision, we can reshape our societies for the better.
