Clarence E. Anthony: Are Cities the Future of Global Cooperation?

The Century of Cities welcomes Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities, as part of our special series recorded in Singapore in association with the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum and the Centre for Liveable Cities. Clarence takes us from the emergence of local power and civic engagement in the 1980s to a very different urban landscape today, where cities are increasingly on the front lines of housing, climate, technology, and inclusion.

For Clarence, the future of cities will be shaped by what happens at the local level. He explores why mayors must think beyond election cycles, put people at the centre of decision-making, and bring government, business, universities, and communities together. As national politics become increasingly divided, he sees something powerful in city-to-city relationships: a global network of local leaders able to cross borders, exchange solutions, and keep working together.