What if mayors ruled the world?—decade after the publication of Benjamin Barber’s book

Abstract

This article revisits the ideas presented in Benjamin Barber’s If Mayors Ruled the World, a decade after its publication, analyzing the evolving role of cities in global governance within both theoretical and practical contexts. The study assesses whether Barber’s vision of cities as essential actors in solving global challenges has materialized, particularly in light of the increasing dysfunctionality of nation-states and the growing relevance of cities in international decision-making. In doing so, the authors reference the book’s main thesis and debate it from the current perspective. While Barber’s notion that cities could “save the world” remains debatable, the past decade has undeniably reinforced their influence in addressing transnational challenges.