Why Build Free Global Cities?
Several leading writers and thinkers have joined forces to propose an innovative solution to the world’s growing migration crisis: the creation of safe harbors, or «Free Global Cities.»
Today’s displaced populations, refugees and migrants forced to flee their homes, need more than temporary relief. They need places where they can work, study, launch businesses, and rebuild their lives and those of their families.
A new book challenges global leaders and citizens alike to reconceive forced displacement, driven by conflict, persecution, and climate change, as an opportunity rather than a burden.
Visionary Ideas
«Free Global Cities: The Future Leaders in Migration and Public Governance» (published by Bloomsbury) blends visionary ideas with actionable policy proposals and even profitable investment strategies.
Conventional aid models have struggled to keep pace with the scale and complexity of modern migration. Edited by Christian Kälin, chairman of Swiss humanitarian NGO Andan Foundation, the book argues for entirely new, autonomous cities designed from the ground up to foster economic opportunity, education, and innovation.
Rejection of Old Binaries
What sets Free Global Cities apart is their rejection of old binaries, aid versus autonomy, and integration versus assimilation.
Or, as Kälin explains: «Rather than viewing refugees as passive recipients of charity or as burdens to host communities, Free Global Cities treat them as agents of change, capable of contributing skills, talents, and fresh perspectives. By creating inclusive, forward-looking environments, we can transform displaced people from victims of circumstance into architects of their futures.»
Voices from Around the Globe
The volume convenes a diverse array of thought leaders. Singaporean professor and former diplomat Kishore Mahbubani warns: «Unless humanity unites around creative, cooperative solutions, migration pressures will tear societies apart. Fortunately, there is a politically viable answer—one that can help politicians win elections by delivering real results: Free Global Cities.»
Parag Khanna, founder and CEO of AlphaGeo, underscores the epochal nature of today’s migration waves: «These movements are more than mass displacement; they herald a grand reorganization of global civilization. Succeeding will require more than tweaking immigration laws—we need a comprehensive strategy to reprogram human geography towards sustainable, climate‑resilient urban habitats.»
Paradigm Shift
In the book’s concluding chapter, Kälin reminds us: «Free Global Cities are not just another policy proposal; they represent a paradigm shift in managing what may be the greatest migration crisis in history.»
«These cities would offer displaced populations the tools they need to thrive, from economic stability to education and healthcare, and recast migration as a pathway to shared prosperity,» he adds.
Hopeful Blueprint
In other words, by reimagining migration as an engine for innovation and growth, Free Global Cities offer a hopeful blueprint for a world on the move.