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Strong Cities Network

Type:

Censorship Advocacy
Status:

Foreign Think Tank
Formation:

2015
Executive Director:

Eric Rosand
Headquarters:

P.O. Box 75769
Location:

London, England

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Strong Cities Network is a coalition of city governments that was launched in 2015 by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, the Obama administration U.S. Department of State, 1 and the United Nations to combat what it identifies as extremism, hate, and polarization. 2 3 As of March 2023, Strong Cities Network includes 160 local governments and hosts global summits, city exchanges, and regional workshops. 4

Strong Cities Network supports censorship under the cover of the establishment of tiplines or online amnesty where people can submit rumors, conspiracies, us-versus-them narratives, hate speech, and other information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 5 The network has also claimed that disinformation campaigns led by extremist groups during the COVID-19 pandemic were used to “undermine confidence in the status quo.” 6

History and Leadership

Strong Cities Network was launched in 2015 with support from the Obama administration 7 at the United Nations General Assembly in an attempt to mount a city-led response to what the organization identified as “hate, polarization and extremism in all its forms.” 8

Eric Rosand is the executive director of the Strong Cities Network. 9 Prior to joining Strong Cities Network in 2021, Rosand worked as a fellow at the Brookings Institution, director at the Prevention Project, as a legal advisor at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and as a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. 10 From January 2010 until March 2016, Rosand worked in several roles in the Obama administration at the U.S. Department of State, including counselor for counterterrorism and director of multinational affairs in the Counterterrorism Bureau. 11 While at the Department of State, Rosand played a role in the launch of Strong Cities Network. 12 13

In 2020, Rosand wrote an article for Brookings Institution calling the Trump administration’s efforts to counter violent extremism dysfunctional and incoherent and shared the belief that those policies may have “fanned the flames” of “white supremacist violence.” 14

Activities and Funding

Strong Cities Network is a coalition of city governments that was launched by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, the U.S. Department of State, and the United Nations to combat what it identifies as hate, polarization, and violent extremism by identifying and addressing the local drivers behind global threats. 15 16

Strong Cities Network also advises local action planning and city consultations, influences policy at the United Nations and the Global Counterterrorism Forum, and promotes ISD’s toolkit to detect disinformation. 17 The network has also convened the Strong Cities Network Mayoral Task Force on Public Private Partnerships Against Hate with the United States Conference of Mayors and launched the Partnerships for Strong Cities Initiative with the World Economic Forum. 18

Strong Cities Network operates an online hub with modules for teachers, civil society, and city officials. Its hate and extremism mapper provides members with data and builds other tools that attempt to correlate online risks with offline behavior. 19 20 21 The network has faced criticism for allegedly being funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and has been accused of diminishing the power of or circumventing local mayors; the network denies the claims. 22

In April 2023, the Strong Cities Network and the National League of Cities will co-host an event at the Atlantic Council’s Cities Summit of the Americas. 23

In 2022, the U.S. Department of State hosted Strong Cities Network’s “Transatlantic Mayoral Dialogue on Preventing Hate, Extremism and Polarization and Safeguarding Democracy” in the Netherlands. U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands Shefali Razdan Duggal said in her remarks at the event that the Biden administration is focused on the critical race theory-influenced concepts of racial inequity and generating foreign policies that decrease barriers to equity worldwide. 24

Also in 2022, Strong Cities Network held a workshop in Denver, Colorado, hosted by the U.S. Department of State and the European Union focused on issues including balancing free speech rights and public safety considerations in the context of protests and demonstrations. The event claimed that the most urgent threats to social cohesion in North American and Nordic countries are hate based on ethnicity, race and identity, anti-Semitism, extreme right-wing movements, disinformation/misinformation, and political polarization, not al-Qaeda and ISIS-related extremism. 25

Support of Censorship

Strong Cities Network supports censorship under the cover of the establishment of tiplines or online amnesty where people can submit rumors, conspiracies, us-versus-them narratives, hate speech, and other information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 26

Strong Cities Network has claimed that disinformation campaigns were used by extremist groups during the COVID-19 pandemic to “undermine confidence in the status quo.” The network also said Islamist groups used COVID-19 to stoke violent opposition to political leaders and claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic was used by “Far Right groups” to organize protests and spread disinformation and conspiracy theories to undermine confidence in the rule of law. 27

Strong Cities Network has also published tools to identify and combat what the network identifies as COVID-19 fake news from Europol 28 and linked to similar resources from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNSESCO), 29 the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 30 and InterAction. 31

Strong Cities Network also promotes an online game to identify what it calls fake news 32 and has shared links to put together an online “fake news and misinformation advice hub” to “protect children” from fake news. 33

Previously, Strong Cities Network had a different approach to information-related topics. It has called the creation of counter-narratives to deal with online speech and extremist narratives a more substantial response than censorship. 34

Membership

Strong Cities Network includes 160 local governments and hosts global summits, city exchanges, and regional workshops. 35 Strong Cities Network’s strategic objectives are developed in close connection with the Strong Cities Network International Steering Committee. 36 The committee consists of 26 cities and municipalities from across the globe including Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and New York, New York. 37

Strong Cities Network member cities in the U.S. include Anaheim, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Aurora, Colorado; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; Louisville, Kentucky; New York, New York; and San Diego, California. 38

Since its founding, Strong Cities Network has worked with 100 mayors and 5,000 local officials to create networks between cities and national governments. 39 The organization also operates the Young Cities program to connect youth activists that work on similar issues. 40 As of March 2023, Young Cities program has engaged 400 individuals in eight countries, led 75 initiatives and engaged more than 22,000 young people. 41

Funding

Strong Cities Network is managed by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, a London-based censorship advocacy organization. 42 The organization was launched and developed with seed funding from the U.S. Department of State. Strong Cities Network also receives funding from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 43

References

  1. Moss, Ian. “Ian Moss’ Remarks for the REMVE Event at U.S. Embassy Brussels.” Remarks as Prepared. U.S. Department of State. November 14, 2022. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.state.gov/ian-moss-remarks-for-the-remve-event-at-u-s-embassy-brussels/.
  2. Kelsey Bjornsgaard and Jasmeet Sahotay. “Young Cities: A Practical Guide to Youth Capacity Building for Countering Hate and Extremism.” February 2023. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/02/YC_PracticalGuide_2023.pdf.
  3. “About.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/.
  4. “About.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/.
  5. “Fighting the COVID-19 Infodemic: An Education Response.” Strong Cities Network News. April 27, 2020. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/fighting-the-infodemic-an-education-response/.
  6. Dukic, Simeon. “Fighting the COVID-19 Infodemic: Politics & Extremism.” Strong Cities Network. April 27, 2020. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/fighting-the-covid-19-infodemic-extremism/.
  7. Moss, Ian. “Ian Moss’ Remarks for the REMVE Event at U.S. Embassy Brussels.” Remarks as Prepared. U.S. Department of State. November 14, 2022. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.state.gov/ian-moss-remarks-for-the-remve-event-at-u-s-embassy-brussels/.
  8. “About.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/
  9. “Our Team.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/our-team/.
  10. “Our Team.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/our-team/.
  11. “Experience.” Eric Rosand LinkedIn. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-rosand-86b0b15/details/experience/.
  12. “Our Team.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/our-team/.
  13. “Eric Rosand.” Just Security. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.justsecurity.org/author/rosanderic/.
  14. Rosand, Eric. “International efforts to counter violent extremism under President Trump: A case study in dysfunction and incoherence.” September 9, 2020. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2020/09/09/international-efforts-to-counter-violent-extremism-under-president-trump-a-case-study-in-dysfunction-and-incoherence/.
  15. Kelsey Bjornsgaard and Jasmeet Sahotay. “Young Cities: A Practical Guide to Youth Capacity Building for Countering Hate and Extremism.” February 2023. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/02/YC_PracticalGuide_2023.pdf.
  16. “About.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/.
  17. “The 101 Disinformation Detection.” Strong Cities Network. August 13, 2020. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/covid-hub-resource/the-101-of-disinformation-detection/.
  18. “What We Do.” Strong Cities. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/what-we-do/.
  19. [1] “About the Strong Cities Network.” Strong Cities Network YouTube. Uploaded 2021. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHaGFry1eWM&t=171s.
  20. “What We Do.” Strong Cities. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/what-we-do/.
  21. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/frequently-asked-questions/.
  22. [1] “Strong Cities Network: Myth-busting.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Strong-Cities-Network_Mythbusting.pdf.
  23. “Atlantic Council at the Cities Summit.” Atlantic Council. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/adrienne-arsht-latin-america-center/all-events/cities-summit/.
  24. “Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Shefali Razdan Duggal [as prepared].” United States Embassy in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Remarks Delivered November 15, 2022. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://nl.usembassy.gov/u-s-ambassador-shefali-razdan-duggals-remarks-at-the-strong-cities-transatlantic-mayoral-dialogue-as-prepared/.
  25. “Strengthening Transatlantic City-Level Cooperation against Extremist- and Hate-Motivated Violence: US – Nordic Sharing in Denver, Colorado.” SCN Events. December 13, 2022. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/strengthening-transatlantic-cooperation-denver/
  26. “Fighting the COVID-19 Infodemic: An Education Response.” Strong Cities Network News. April 27, 2020. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/fighting-the-infodemic-an-education-response/.
  27. Dukic, Simeon. “Fighting the COVID-19 Infodemic: Politics & Extremism.” Strong Cities Network. April 27, 2020. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/fighting-the-covid-19-infodemic-extremism/.
  28. “COVID-19 Fake News.” Strong Cities Network. October 2020. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/covid-hub-resource/covid-19-fake-news/.
  29. “DISINFODEMIC: Deciphering COVID-19 Disinformation.” Strong Cities Network. April 2020. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/covid-hub-resource/disinfodemic-deciphering-covid-19-disinformation-2/.
  30. “Combatting COVID-19 disinformation on online platforms.” Strong Cities Network. July 2020. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/covid-hub-resource/combatting-covid-19-disinformation-on-online-platforms/.
  31. “Disinformation Toolkit.” Strong Cities Network. April 2020. Accessed March 25, 2023.  https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/covid-hub-resource/disinformation-toolkit/.
  32. “Factitious.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/covid-hub-resource/factitious/.
  33. “Tackling Fake News and Misinformation.” Strong Cities Network. October 2020. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/covid-hub-resource/tackling-fake-news-and-misinformation/.
  34. “How is this applicable to Cities?” Strong Cities Network Slideshow. June 2016. Accessed March 26, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/How-is-this-applicable-to-cities.pdf
  35. “About.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/.
  36. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/frequently-asked-questions/.
  37.  “International Steering Committee.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/strong-cities/steering-committee/.
  38. “Cities.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/cities/.
  39. “About the Strong Cities Network.” Strong Cities Network YouTube. Uploaded 2021. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHaGFry1eWM&t=171s.
  40. “Young Cities.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/young-cities-3/.
  41. “New Publication | Young Cities: Practical Guide to Youth Capacity Building for Countering Hate and Extremism.” Strong Cities Network. February 6, 2023. Accessed March 25, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/young-cities-practical-guide-youth/.
  42. “About.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/our-team/.
  43. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Strong Cities Network. Accessed March 24, 2023. https://strongcitiesnetwork.org/en/about/frequently-asked-questions/.
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