Worldcity actor-networks

Thispaperintroduces somenewtheoretical ideas toaliterature that isjust beginning toconceptualize globalization andcities asnetworks. Theideaofnetworks isafashionable one, buttheideaisnotnewandhastaken several forms overtheyears. Thispaperdiscusses some ofthemorerecent andinfluential ideas about networks toargueforsomenewtheoretical and empirical directions inthefield ofglobalization andworldcities. First, theshift fromtheideaof ahierarchy ofworldcities developed bywriters suchasJohnFriedmann totheideaofaworld city network developed bywriters suchasPeter Taylor isdiscussed. Second, thepaperprovides acritique oftheneo-Marxist account ofglobalization asaseries ofmeta-networks advanced by ManuelCastells toexposethelimitations ofanapproach thathasbeenbroadly adopted by several globalization andworldcities scholars. Finally, itisargued that further progress in theconceptualization