This text reflects on the development of policy towards cities, asking some of the bigger questions about how we might imagine cities in the 21st century. The authors question the belief that the future of cities lies in just the knowledge economy. Further, they claim that current government thoughts on who should make decisions in cities lacks an overall conception of urban citizenship. The case is argued for a strategy that seeks empowerment across the social spectrum, which feels comfortable with the reconstruction of cities as plural and open.