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Secondary Cities: Definitions and Concepts 25The function and specialization of cities is very important in the competition forgrowth, economic development and investment attraction. The classification of citiesis moving more towards systems and functions of cities (Hall, 2005). This does notsuggest that city size and hierarchy is no longer relevant in the definition of secondarycities. They are – but function and scope add an important dimension, which must beincluded in the definition of a secondary city.A new working definition is required, which incorporates the importance offunction and the links some secondary cities have in national and international urbansystems (World Bank, 2011). Merging hierarchical and functional attributes of citiesinto a concept referred to by Peter Hall (2005) as “networked cities” seems necessary.To do this we need to know how the functional and economic systems of cities (sector,spatial and dynamics) relate to scale, specialty and development potential withinnetworks of closely linked cities. By mapping spatial supply chains and drivers ofsecondary-city economic development competitiveness systematically, it should bepossible to identify specific demands for resources, strategic infrastructure, capital,policies and initiatives, and incentives needed to position secondary cities again in aposition of competitive advantage and to realize latent (below the surface) developmentpotential. Few secondary cities really understand what they need to do to becomecompetitive and how to realize latent development potential.2.3 Redefinition of the Term “Secondary City”Several concepts have underpinned the definition of the term “secondary city”. Themerging of traditional hierarchical, systems and functional typologies of cities bringsforth a new hybrid and perspective of secondary cities that should be included inthe definition. Consideration of these concepts is important in devising a definitionthat can be used by international development agencies in drawing up policies andprogrammes to support their development. In seeking to redefine what we understanda secondary city to be, it is useful to review past and contemporary thinking in the fieldof hierarchy, typology, systems and functions of cities.2.3.1 Hierarchy of CitiesCountries have long used a hierarchy of urban settlements as an instrument for the organizationand operations of government, defence and commerce. John (2012), in seekingto encourage conversation on the development of secondary cities in South Africa,provides a good overview of elements of hierarchy associated with systems of cities. Somecountries have a system of cities that is very hierarchical, for example there is a single,very large, dominant city, such as Jakarta (population 12 million), and a long list of lessersizedurban settlements, tailing down to small towns of fewer than 20,000 people.