OZY’s City Futures brings you urban face-lifts reshaping life, from crumbling commercial capitals to war zones. The world has never been more urbanized than it is today — 55 percent of all people live in cities, according to the World Bank, compared to 46 percent at the turn of the century. Yet individual cities aren’t guaranteed growth. Detroit, once an epitome of America’s manufacturing prowess, and Aden, the Yemeni city that was the world’s second busiest port in the 1950s, are today shells compared to the past. One of the world’s first cities, Uruk in Sumer, no longer exists. Other ancient urban hubs such as Jerusalem, Athens and Damascus, however, still remain important cities. What makes a city click, why do some fail and how are urban hubs around the world reinventing themselves to stay attractive to both existing residents and newcomers? These are some of the questions OZY’s City Futures series answers, with stories from around the world. No matter where you live, in a world that’s only going to urbanize more, the lessons these cities offer are vital for us too. | 
