Monday, January 1, 2018

City States of a Future Earth

From my Book - History of the Future

What follows is a list of ten major city states that played dominant roles in both the political and economic affairs of the city state period. Population numbers are based on 2180 census figures, unless otherwise notes.
Atlanta: As the capital of the influential Free States of Southern America, Atlanta grew to become the largest commercial and information center in the Western Hemisphere. A large population influx from the less viable economic regions of North America increased the population of Atlanta from fewer than 10 million in 2050 to 97 million, recorded almost a century later.
Berlin: Another service orientated city state, Berlin gained prominence for its highly innovative, organized and well-respected aerospace and technological design programs. Population: 86 million.
Calcutta: The Pearl of India was a shining example illustrating the positive transformation of a once poverty stricken urban sprawl into a relatively affluent modern city. Calcutta’s city planners revitalized the megalopolis through the wholehearted adaptation of the Biotron system. The city served as a center for micro-electronic production. Population: 157 million.
Kinshasa: The largest city in Africa, Kinshasa’s population surpassed that of Cairo in 2105. Kinshasa existed as the center for global textile production during the city state period. Population: 123 million.
Lima: Rapid population growth allowed this former Peruvian capital to become the second largest urban region in South America. Lima was noted for its vast factory resources primarily concerned with heavy industry such as mineral processing and alloy manufacturing. Population: 119 million.
Los Angeles: As the second largest city in North America, Los Angeles surpassed the population of Mexico City in 2075. The city’s survival was dependent on its production of luxury items, however, it continued to exist as an entertainment Mecca. Population: 114 million.  
Moscow: Although tightly controlled for over forty years by the semi-autocratic Neo-Muscovite Party, Moscow grew in size and importance in the early twenty-second century, when its strategic position between Asia and Europe allowed the city state to assume the role of a Trans-regional Trading Center. Population: 132 million.
New York: The return of a high incidence of crime in this densely populated city state, forced local authorities to adapt draconian strategies. Nevertheless, the city continued to function as a leading commercial and corporate advertising region thanks to its extensive global computer linkup with the outside world. Greater New York in the twenty-second century spread southward to include regions of the Eastern seaboard, like Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington. Population: 129 million.    
Tientsin: Large peasant migrations from the rural areas of China dramatically increased the population of Tientsin. The migrations were inspired by the movement towards scientific urban-based food farms during the late twenty-first century. Tientsin surpassed both Beijing and Shanghai in overall population in 2124 and 2133 respectively, to become the dominant Chinese city state. Tientsin was also noted for its Nutrition Allocation Units (NAUs) that helped coordinate food distribution programs throughout much of the Far East. Population: 169 million.
Tokyo: A city described by Australian-born poet Fergus Hayden as a “Concrete Jungle incubating in a Steel Receptacle,” Tokyo served as the leading center of medical research on Earth, but was also admired for its diverse economy. Tokyo had the highest population density of all major city states.
Population: 181 million.

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