- The Role of Urban Symbols in the Global Competition    249 kb by    Stupar, Aleksandra | STUPAR@AFRODITA.RCUB.BG.AC.YU    Short Outline Considering the global changes in the urban perception/hierarchy, this paper will focus on the theoretical and practical dimension of this process analyzing the relation between globalization, new urban symbolism and its role in the creative economy. Abstract The cities, supported by the world capital and changed organisation of production, services and market, form their internal and external networks, redefining the importance of their spaces, processes and flows. The urban growth and urban development become global imperatives, while the competition for the leading position in the global network of power reflects true nature of modern urban nodes. At the same time, the myths of the new global order - identity, community, cosmopolitanism and networking, are playing an important role in the (un)intentional manipulation with (un)expected results. The physical and symbolical frames of the global cities are transformed into a new system of modified symbols and signs becoming a re-presentation of the global perception and hierarchy. Consequently, our everyday experience, limitations and growing importance of global-local nexus, create a restructured urban space which should be, above all, visually and economically attractive and efficient. Considering the complexity of these new processes, this paper will focus on their theoretical and practical dimension in order to define and analyze the relation between globalization, new symbolism of urban space and its role in the creative economy. The numerous examples of global nodes reveal the essence of this urbo-social phenomenon and identify different models of its application in the process of planning. The contemporary city and its spaces - as symbols of global initiation, urban identity (cultural, ethnical, historical) and excitation/inhibition of its citizens and visitors, have been shaping the new, recognizable and competitive urban context, capable to participate in the global game. Finally, the links established between 'transparent' and hidden motives of these actions will enable us to discover the true nature of planned and realized 'outcomes' as well as to determine the influence of reinvented symbolism on the urban marketing, regeneration and development Keywords globalisation, city, urban symbols, competitiveness, perception Case Study presented on the ISOCARP Congress 2005: Making Spaces for the Creative Economy   Click to open the full paper as pdf document   Click to send an email to the author(s) of this paper