The Future Viability of City Networks

Since the 1990s, both formal and informal consensus-based procedures have been used in spatial planning policy to strengthen regional collaboration between cities. These include, for example regional conferences, round tables and also city networks and alliances. This chapter examines what networking opportunities are available for cities and how these networks can be classified. Examples such as the Eurocities network, the WHO Healthy Cities Network or neighbourhood city networks like the Bergisch triangle are also discussed. It is explained how regional cooperation can be strengthened by city networks and alliances, especially in times of crisis. Opportunities for action and potentials, that cannot or only partly be exploited by one city, are a good incentive to improve regional cooperation. Another question the paper explores is that of the future viability of city networks. In the post-COVID-19 era, cities need to prepare for future pandemics and learn from each other’s experiences more quickly. For such joint preparation—based on the rigorous evaluation of the COVID-19-experience—city networks can provide a suitable platform, where competences and resources can be bundled and approaches can be explored in a larger spatial perspective.