Mobility, Diversity and Global City PDF

Mobility, Diversity and the Community in the Global City Gydabelle Matin-Celestino, PhD LESSON TITLE: ⮚ Global City ⮚ Global Demography ⮚ Global Migration CHAPTER OVERVIEW The notion of ‘global city’ has a central place in understanding contemporary spatial patterns of globalizati...

Mobility, Diversity and the Community in the Global City Gydabelle Matin-Celestino, PhD LESSON TITLE: ⮚ Global City ⮚ Global Demography ⮚ Global Migration CHAPTER OVERVIEW The notion of ‘global city’ has a central place in understanding contemporary spatial patterns of globalization: the ways it impacts on local life is nowhere more visible than in the global city. This chapter looks at the rise of the cities, patterns of urban development, the idea of metropolis, the problems experienced in cities as well as the environmental concerns of global cities. It also presents demographic data, the tools of demography, population concepts and V. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES 1. Identify the attributes of a global city 2. Analyze how cities serve as engines of globalization 3. Explain the theory of demographic transition as it affects global population 4. Analyze the political, economic, cultural and social factors underlying the global movements of people Global City Cultural Cosmopolitan diversity ism the main physical and a key marker of a phenomenon geographic playground of the the global city most readily globalizing forces: in and a associated with this space of consequence of the global city: population concentration and human mobility large, diverse mixing, the global and migration, cities attract flows of people, of is usually people, material capital and ideas are woven into the daily detected on the and cultural lived experiences of surface as a products from its residents. ‘cosmopolitan all over the feel’ world. Capitalist Context cosmopolitanism often focuses on consumption in global cities, where everyday life is significantly shaped by commercial culture, retail and shopping. cosmopolitanism offers a cross-cultural variety of food, fashion, entertainment and various other consumables and artefacts. The promise and allure of cosmopolitan consumption is familiar to the dweller of any large twenty-first century city. What is ‘GLOBAL CITY’? as a phenomenon, global cities, either as centers of imperial power or ‘free cities’ at the crossroads of international merchant routes, existed since ancient times. More recently, the concept was preceded by the idea of ‘world city’. post-industrial GLOBAL CITY characterized by occupational and income polarization, with the highly paid professional class and providers of low-paid services. Instead of being egg-shaped, with those in the middle being a majority, the labour market of global cities is increasingly ‘hourglass-shaped’, with a hollow middle (Autor et al., 2006; Baum, 1999). The polarization of the service-dominated post- industrial labour market is reflected in the polarization of housing markets (Sassen, 1991)  Shanghai, for example, previously a state-controlled socialist industrial powerhouse, claimed its global city status when chimneys started to be replaced by steel-and glass skyscrapers, home to finance, commerce and research and development, facilitated by massive foreign capital inflows (Wu, 2000). Singapore is another recent addition to the global city club, with its efficient global transport infrastructure and growing professional service sector. The development of the city- state of Singapore into a global city neatly reflects the growing global importance of the AsiaPacific region (Baum, 1999: 1097). Service Economy in Global City a ‘cultural turn’ in the advanced societies where a ‘symbolic economy’, based on abstract products such as financial instruments, information and ‘culture’ (arts, fashion, music, etc.), has increasing importance.  MOBILITY, MIGRATION AND THE GLOBAL CITY: ATTRACTING THE ‘CREATIVE CLASS’ Globalization of the labour markets has created a new type of professional nomadism A high level of economic dynamism, and accompanying population mobility, are considered signs of economic health: ‘competitive economy’ requires a ‘flexible workforce’. Submitted to the requirements of competitiveness and mobility are both businesses and employees.  MOBILITY, MIGRATION AND THE GLOBAL CITY The highly educated are the most footloose section of the population: the professional middle classes, having in general more control and autonomy in their workplace, and a tendency to understand their working life as a ‘career’, often change jobs and many are ready to relocate to another city or country (Colic- Peisker 2010; Cosmopolitans vs. Local Workforce Dichotomy The community life of ‘locals’ was preoccupied with local problems, ‘Cosmopolitans’ (Gouldner, 1989: 401, calls them ‘itinerants’) and sought social status outside the local community, usually from their professional peers, because their local community could neither validate nor reward their professional competence.  DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY IN THE GLOBAL CITY: There is No Cosmopolitanism Without Diversity In a sociological sense, diversity is a rather vague and ambiguous, context-dependent concept, In positive manner, diversity represents potential for successful merging of cultures and ideas, what usually comes under the label ‘cosmopolitan’. Negatively, diversity can mean a potential for fracturing social cohesion and social capital, as  Global cities are home to a diverse and visible set of protagonists of the artists, bohemians, ‘urban lifestyle’ new media designers, gay and youth subcultures, university students and immigrants, creating a remarkable andalso highly visible ‘ethnic’ and cultural diversity  Hypermobility of Dwellers of the global competitive cosmopolitans city, regardless of the does not allow much room population density, are for community life likely to be spatially and (ColicPeisker, 2010). emotionally detached from their neighbors and co-locals, and devoted to their professional pursuits, that usually require them to be highly connected and ‘networked’ in an instrumental way, these days increasingly through Global Cities, Social Change and ‘Liquid Life’ they are places where the forces of capitalist neo-liberal globalization have their stronghold, but on the other hand they are crucibles of social change where existing political, social and ideological categories and relationships are being constantly challenged and transformed by alternative lifestyles, ideas and movements Wherever one stands in the structure vs. agency debate, people and their local communities are not mere puppets of the powerful global economic and political forces. While globalization endangers the livelihoods of individuals, groups and even nations, it also offers many opportunities, and these are concentrated in global cities. People therefore flock to these nodes of global economy and society looking for business and work opportunities, excitement, adventure, change, creative pursuits, education and various ‘cosmopolitan’ experiences. Thank You for Listening!