Susan Aitken: Glasgow's Reinvention and the Future of City Leadership

In this episode of The Century of Cities, we are joined by Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council. Susan reflects on the dramatic shift in how cities are perceived. Once viewed as distressed places marked by deindustrialization, population loss, and narratives of decline, cities are now recognized as hubs of innovation, diversity, and economic resilience, and as the places best positioned to solve society's biggest challenges. She highlights Glasgow's remarkable renaissance, from its cultural revival to its leadership on climate action, equity, and just transition. Susan points to the city's resilience and the grit of its people as the driving forces behind its reinvention. Looking ahead, she envisions a Glasgow built on clean industries, inclusivity, and improved health, while cautioning that global pressures like climate shocks and mass migration will continue to land hardest in urban areas. Her message is clear: cities hold the solutions, but they need the powers, resources, and collective voice to deliver them.