Dante Disparte Featured in International Policy Digest
On February 5, 2017, Dante Disparte, Chairperson of ASP’s Business Council for American Security was featured in the International Policy Digest.
In his article titled “As Nations Retrench Modern City-States Emerge” Disparte discusses the resurgence of nationalism in accordance with the rise of modern city-states. He highlights the rural and urban political divides observed during the 2016 presidential election and the Brexit vote, as a clear indication of increasingly polarized societies. With this polarization will come the decoupling of national interests from the interests of de facto city-states, thus leading to the rise of modern city-states. Furthermore, Disparte identifies rising levels of urbanization and population growth as two incredibly strong forces that will likely overcome nationalistic gravity to retrench.
The article closes with a discussion on the recent battle between city-state and the nation, demonstrated by the uncommonly persistent protest rallies in urban areas, coupled with the new administration’s discontent with sanctuary cities defying recent executive orders. Disparte leaves us with this, “The tide of diverse, urban and hyper-connected people cannot be stopped, even by the temporary – if shocking – return of nationalism.” He argues that in the future, city leaders will have more and more economic and cultural clout. However, he finishes with a reminder to urbanites, declaring that their suburban and rural countrymen also have a vote and their voices and values do still matter.
