The city is the most powerful tool humanity has for social and economic development. High rates of urbanization are associated with many positive outcomes including higher income and lower infant mortality. This positive linkage is being threatened by the joint challenge of rapid urbanization and destabilization in some of the world's most conflict-affected regions. Policy discussions must specifically address the issue of cities and the unique challenges of promoting stability and preventing urban conflict or risk further damage to global development.
Cities such as Tokyo, Shanghai, London and New York are dense but relatively orderly, and benefitted from more planning and economic development as they grew. The developing world has many cities that have become examples of good governance and reduction of armed violence. For instance, Medellín in Colombia has become an international example of recovery from guerrilla and later criminal threats. Cities such as Abu Dhabi and Algiers have also combined good administration and security.
