World City Networks and Global Commodity Chains: Towards a World-Systems' Integration

There are two literatures that explicitly describe spaces of flows that constitute contemporary globalization: world city network analysis and global commodity chain analysis. We explore the possibilities of their integration by returning to their common origins in world-systems analysis. Each model is described and critiqued and it is argued that each can be used to address some of the other’s limitations. This is illustrated through world city process additions to understanding the coffee commodity chain and commodity chain additions to understanding Mexico City and Santiago’s positioning in the world city network. This complementarity is just a first step towards a more complete integration; the conclusion provides necessary next steps towards just such a research agenda.