Why were London, Marseille, and New York examples of heterogenetic cities?

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urban culture Cafes and shops along Montague Street in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.

In the context of urban sociology, Robert Redfield and Milton Singer identified cities as having variable cultural roles. They categorized cities as "heterogenetic" when their primary function is to serve as centers of technical and economic change.1

London, Marseille, and New York are considered examples of heterogenetic cities because they function as hubs that create and introduce new ideas, cosmologies, and social practices into society. In these urban environments, the intelligentsia actively challenge traditional methods, question established norms, and foster innovation, effectively positioning these cities as dynamic cultural centers rather than mere preservers of existing traditions.1