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| A STUDY ON LOS ANGELES' DEVELOPMENT FROM A REGIONAL CENTRAL CITY TO A GLOBAL CITY |
| MA Xiao-ning |
| Department of History, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China |
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Abstract This thesis analyses how Los Angeles,one of the important cities in contemporary America and even in the world urban system,developed itself from a regional central city into a global city.Beginning as a poor town solely dependent on cattle raising,it grew to be a regional central city of southern California in the 1930s,and in the 1960s it became a national city.Afterwards,the international elements in its economy increased dramatically,and it had become a global city with substantial influence on the pacific coastal areas in 1980s.On the whole,its industrial development and industrialization play a major role during its previous two development stages,while industrial restructuring and the urban economy characterized by high-tech and the service industry are the key factors to its successful change from a national city to a global one.
This thesis gives a detailed discussion about the reasons for Los Angeles's fast development.The author holds that the inspiring and innovative humanism is the foundermental factor for its development.Besides,the favorable environment at home and abroad is also indispensable to its development.At home,Los Angeles benefits from the increasingly powerful federate government and the developed North-eastern and Mid-west parts.From the abroad environment,the economic exchange among America and the countries around the Pacific is also one of the noticeable factors.
Finally,by means of investigation and comprehensive analysis of Los Angeles as a typical case,the author aims to disclose some universal inspirations on the development of a global city.1)"People" are the fundamental and lasting impulse in the development of a global city.The formation of global cities is due to the natural development of cities and it is also the result of the active promotion of the city government and the citizens.During the era of knowledge economy,the advocacy of humanism is of vital importance to the development of cities.2)In designing the developing strategy to construct global cities,the industry structure should be reconstructed timely.In addition,the development of high-tech and the third industry should be taken into consideration.3)The development of cities is rooted in their location,and relies on the close ties between the outer economic regions.Meanwhile,the close contacts between the economic regions at home and abroad are also quite inseparable to the development of cities,which is of vital importance to the world today characterized by global economy.4) A city has to map out a flexible and practical strategy of development after evaluation of its own advantages and disadvantages,give priority on the different stage of development and foster its own characteristics.
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Received: 20 August 2006
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2007, Vol. 22 
