With our publication on what makes cities and communities liberal, we aim to prove that liberal principles are the right ones to develop successful urban societies, also outlining how Mayors can put them into practice.For the first time in the history of humanity, more people live in cities than in the countryside – in Europe the proportion is nearly three quarters. The trend is even expected to continue throughout the 21st century.

This development has resulted in a new interest in cities and in particular their governance.

Our President Bart Somers:

“It is in cities where many of society’s key objectives for the future succeed or fail. It is often said that local politics is simply about practical solutions and that ideologies don’t matter, but we believe otherwise.  A mayor with the right ideas and successful formulas can make a big difference, just as mayors with the wrong ideas can aggravate existing problems and bring on new ones.”

With this publication, which stems from discussions within the Liberal Mayors Network, we aim to prove that liberal principles are the right ones to develop successful urban societies, and we outline how mayors can put them into practice.

We also think that this publication will be of interest to liberal politicians and activists working at any level of government, as a useful source of reference for the liberal principles that guide their political action. Let’s build a liberal Europe and a liberal world together!

ALDE Principles that make cities and communities liberal brochure