In The New Localism: How Cities Can Thrive in the Age of Populism, Bruce Katz and Jeremy Nowak reveal where the real power to create change lies and how it can be used to address our most serious social, economic, and environmental challenges. Their argument stating that the future of effective governance and societal progress lies within the dynamic capabilities of cities and metropolitan regions, underscores a paradigm shift from traditional, centralized national authority to a more decentralized, networked form of local empowerment. The authors claim that in an era marked by political polarization and federal inertia, urban centers have emerged as the primary arenas for innovative problem-solving and inclusive economic development.
In their book, Katz and Nowak introduce the concept of «new localism,» which emphasizes the redistribution of power: downward from national governments to cities and metropolitan areas, horizontally across public, private, and civic sectors, and globally through interconnected networks of capital, trade, and innovation. This framework is presented not merely theoretical but is illustrated through detailed case studies of cities that exemplify these principles in action.
In The New Localism, Katz and Nowak tell the stories of the cities that are on the vanguard of problem solving. One prominent example is Pittsburgh, a city that has transformed from a declining steel industry hub to a thriving center of technology and education. By leveraging its existing assets such as renowned universities, a strong philanthropic community, and a collaborative spirit, Pittsburgh has fostered new industries in robotics, information technology and healthcare. This renaissance is attributed to a deliberate strategy of inclusive growth, where public, private, and civic leaders gather together to drive economic development.
Indianapolis serves as another illustrative case. The city’s approach based on the governance through the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership demonstrates how structured networks of leaders from various sectors can collaboratively steer metropolitan growth. This model of governance moves beyond traditional governmental frameworks, embracing a more flexible, responsive system that can effectively address complex urban challenges.
Copenhagen, in turn, offers us a European perspective on new localism. The city has skilfully utilized publicly owned assets, such as its waterfront, to spur large-scale redevelopment and finance critical infrastructure projects through land sales. This strategy not only revitalizes urban spaces but also generates sustainable funding mechanisms for public goods, demonstrating a pragmatic approach to urban planning and fiscal management.
Out of these stories emerge new norms of growth, governance, and finance and a path toward a more prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive society. Katz and Nowak imagine a world in which urban institutions finance the future through smart investments in innovation, infrastructure and children and urban intermediaries take solutions created in one city and adapt and tailor them to other cities with speed and precision.
As Katz and Nowak show us in The New Localism, «Power now belongs to the problem solvers».
1. You can follow the discussion of the concepts described in the book:
2. Watch the book presentation and discussion in Indianapolis