Economy, Politics, and Territory

The rapid urbanization and technological changes seen in recent decades are producing a new geography of global power, with metropolitan centers and regions assuming increasing importance in the world economy and politics. Based on the recognition of the centrality of large urbanizations in contemporary globalization, this study focuses on the city of São Paulo to discuss the possibilities and limits of local public power to face the enormous challenges of managing an economically dynamic and socially unequal city. Priority is given to the State's action on multiple scalar levels and the strength of innovative politics to bring about changes in patterns of social coexistence.