Locals, Exiles And Cosmopolitans: A Theoretical Argument About Identity And Place In Miami

Recent theoretical advances point to the dynamic and plural nature of processes of identity formation. Moreover, the ascendance of the globalisation paradigm implies a greater emphasis on their geographical dimension in terms of place and mobility. Illustrated with the case of Miami, this paper presents a theoretical argument about place, mobility and identity in contemporary global cities. The need to go beyond conventional and singular categories of identity is argued, with special reference to the impact of rapid increases in spatial mobility. In this paper, the role of Miami's different populations is framed in the context of their geographical identities and the ways they identify with Miami as locals, exiles and cosmopolitans. The high mobility of Miami's population and the small number of locals pose some major challenges, with implications for this city's civil society. The case of Miami also sheds a different, and less idealistic, light on the meaning of cosmopolitanism.