The New Localism

Katz argues in his forthcoming book, the new localism, Barcelona and Madrid are called to counteract the external loss of prestige of the Catalonia and Spain brands. With mayors of the same political sensitivity in front, the two capitals should increase their collaboration, especially in the cultural section.

"Conventional knowledge tells us that cities are mere political units subordinate to nations, but that is wrong. The power has changed."

Bruce Katz visits Stockholm and visits Elvakaffet in a conversation about how to revitalize the cities, erecting the growth of populism and creating a new "localism" in the ongoing urbanization.

In their book The New Localism, Bruce Katz, the Centennial scholar at the Brookings Institution, and Philadelphia’s Jeremy Nowak, who created the Reinvestment Fund and is a fellow at Drexel, argue that the power to change resides in cities that are stepping up as the state and federal governments step back.

In a speech that went around the world, Katz kept returning to Spokane and its ability to shape its future. "The main message is, 'It's up to you,'" he said. "The cavalry's not coming. It's really not coming. … The power is here. The future is here."