Disputing the global: a sceptical view of locality-based international initiatives

Under the contemporary swell of globalisation, locality-based international initiatives are widely perceived as essential for the growth of city-regions. Absent such endeavours, city-regions are predicted to become uncompetitive. We challenge this optimistic scenario. City-regions undertaking such endeavours confront relatively inflexible global hierarchies, must attend to daunting organisational and technical issues, and run the risk of upsetting local political arrangements. We counsel caution and suggest that the development of local capacities take precedence over global pretensions.