291 Katarína Svitková Contemporary security from the urban standpoint: Cities in the face of risks and threats by people, technologies, investments and information16. The power dynamic and the links between “elementary” cities and more global cities is something that is under study17. Medium-sized cities cannot aspire to the levels of economic and political power that megalopolises have accumulated, and it is true that the role of states continues to be an important one. However, various cooperation mechanisms are being developed between the most important global cities – such as those seen in New York, London, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro or Johannesburg, among others. Those relating to the environment or public sector management are of particular interest. This type of cooperation is often more efficient and effective than the traditional negotiation of international agreements and their gradual implementation. As regards security inside cities, it is necessary to bear in mind the increasing role of non-traditional players, particularly terrorist groups, social movements with different makeups and different aims, multinational companies – sometimes with revenues higher than the GDP of many countries - , and also private security companies that operate in conflict situations in various parts of the planet. All of these players are closely linked to the cities where they have their headquarters, from where they manage their investments, where they carry out their activities, and where they aim to achieve their objectives. In the same way, they are able to influence the social and political dynamics (even the most conflictive dynamics) that are played out in the most urbanised areas nowadays. The capacity to guarantee the development and the security of cities against international threats, however, is an important challenge for governments – both at the national and municipal level. In the most extreme cases, when state authorities do not manage these areas appropriately, failed cities18 emerge – a concept derived from the idea of failed states. What is referred to here is the incapability (or total absence) of state institutions to provide basic services to the inhabitants or to guarantee security and order in a given city. Clearly a state’s weakness will have consequences at the local level. The activities of armed gangs, terrorists and organised crime of all types tend to converge in urbanised areas where they have the infrastructure and resources necessary to carry out their activities. Increasing interconnectivity between cities through new communication and transport technologies allows these threats to expand geographically and for those involved to communicate their aims and intentions with greater ease. In other words, the militarisation of urban spaces can be seen in various countries around the world and has been facilitated by the development of military technology that has been put to civilian use, as well as by the role played by non-traditional players. The recent 16 TAYLOR, Peter. The Big Question: How Should Borders Be Drawn? World Policy Institute, 2013. Available under: http://www.worldpolicy.org/journal/spring2013/big-question Consulted: 20.08.2013 17 SASSEN, Saskia. An Emergent Urban Geopolitics. Saskia Sassen website, 2012. Available under: http:// www.saskiasassen.com/PDFs/london/An-Emergent-Urban-Geopolitics.pdf Consulted: 19.08.2013 18 NORTON, Richard J. Feral Cities, Naval War College Review, vol. 1, nº 4, 2003, p. 97.
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