Secondary cities have become the subject of renewed interest by scholars and international
development organizations. This report, for Cities Alliance, investigates
the role played by secondary cities in the development of global regions and nations. It
includes a literature review and redefinition of the term “secondary city” in the context
of the role such cities play in global and national urban systems. Secondary cities are no
longer defined by population size. Today, functionality and connectivity with global
and national systems of cities has a significant influence on the way secondary cities
are defined. The book discusses trends, influences and challenges, including the forces
of New Economic Geography (NEG) facing the development of secondary cities in
developing regions using a systems analysis perspective under the headings of urban
governance, economic, development, social and environmental systems.