Geopolitics-of-Smart-Cities

GEOPOLITICS OF SMART CITIES

  • Authors: Hubert Beroche, Ana Chubinidze, Lina Goelzer

  • Layout by: Alizée Sire

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Introduces key sections of the report:

    • Executive Summary

    • Introduction: Towards a New Order

    • Chapters covering Urban Technologies, UrbanTech War between China & USA, EU responses, and more

AUTHORS

  • Key Contributors:

    • Hubert Beroche: Founder of Urban AI

    • Ana Chubinidze: CEO of Adalan AI

    • Lina Goelzer: Research Assistant

    • Several contributing experts from various fields

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  • Collaboration between Urban AI and Adalan AI

  • Presentation of preliminary results at various international conferences

METHODOLOGY

  • Extensive research conducted over a year:

    • 16 expert interviews across domains

    • Multiple feedback sessions at events

    • Online webinars for final results sharing

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

  • Urban technologies seen as neutral but are increasingly weaponized in geopolitical contexts

  • Smart Cities vs Safe Cities: Strategic narratives shaped by the US and China respectively

INTRODUCTION: TOWARDS A NEW ORDER

  • Evolution of geopolitics beyond state competition to include cities, organizations, and corporations

    • Cyberspace defined as a fifth domain of geopolitical operation

URBAN TECHNOLOGIES AS INSTRUMENTS OF POWER

  • Historical deployment of urban technologies reflects shifts from top-down to bottom-up approaches

  • AI and machine learning becoming integral to urban technology applications

THE URBANTECH WAR

  • The China-USA rivalry manifests through competition for technological leadership in urban technologies

    • Emphasis on the concepts of Smart Cities (US) and Safe Cities (China) as strategic narratives

THE EUROPEAN UNION BETWEEN TWO RIVALRIES

  • EU's position as a potential geostrategic actor amidst US-China technological competition

  • The emergence of European narratives emphasizing privacy, participation, and ecology

CONCLUSION

  • Three distinct strategic narratives: Smart City (US), Safe City (China), and a developing EU narrative

  • These narratives reflect cultural values, technological paradigms, and global aspirations.