Benjamin Barber suggested that the future of the world may lie with the politicians who implement practical change every day: mayors.
Why you should listen
A passionate advocate of democracy’s power, Benjamin Barber explored bold solutions for dysfunctional systems and political paralysis. In his 2013 book If Mayors Ruled the World, he showed how decentralized local governments can be more flexible -- and more in tune with their constituents -- than their federal counterparts. The book led to the foundation of the Global Parliament of Mayors, a governance body of, by and for mayors from all continents. It builds on the experience, expertise and leadership of mayors in tackling local challenges resulting from global problems.
Barber burst into the media spotlight on September 11, 2001, when his book Jihad Vs. McWorld, published several years earlier, assumed new relevance. With his prophetic analysis of the emerging collision of tribalism and globalism, Barber established the parameters for 21st-century political debate.
His newest book is Cool Cities: Urban Sovereignty and the Fix for Global Warming.
What others say
He is one of a small breed of scholars who strive to be “public intellectuals.” He is powered by ideas and discussion, by the rough-and-tumble of vigorous debate.
Benjamin Barber’s TED Talk
More news and ideas from Benjamin Barber
News
In memory of Benjamin Barber
May 9, 2017
Nation states are failing miserably on some of the more urgent global challenges of the modern age — especially climate change, predatory capitalism, terrorism and forced migration. Nations are increasingly closed, parochial and outdated, slow to respond to the pressures of a fast changing world. The three and a half long century experiment is rapidly coming […]
Continue readingIn Brief
A 3D printed dress for the Paralympics, biodiversity in the heart of the city, and a camera that can read a closed book
September 16, 2016
As usual, the TED community has lots of news to share this week. Below, some highlights. Man vs. machine? It took Danit Peleg just 100 hours to print the dress worn by fellow TEDster Amy Purdy in the opening ceremony of the Paralympics in Rio (if that sounds slow, consider that it took her 300 […]
Continue readingWe humans
Why cities rule the world
May 31, 2016
Cities are the the 21st century’s dominant form of civilization -- and they're where humanity's struggle for survival will take place. Robert Muggah and Ben Barber spell out the possibilities.
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