Fluidity of Place presents an interdisciplinary conversation with theories of space-time, place, and globalization at the cutting edge of social theory. Focusing on the construction of urban space in the context of hyper-mobility, it examines the social relations that form 'place' in a globalized world. The first half of the book discusses globalization theory and looks at place in relation to the fluidity brought about by recent technological advances. The second half details the construction of understandings of Asian mega-cities, particularly Jakarta, and examines the realities behind narratives of over-urbanization in light of globalization and the concomitant fluidity of place. The book makes a compelling argument about the competing claims to place in a world where the nation-state has lost control of its borders.

About Editors and Authors

YOSHIHARA Naoki is a Japanese sociologist who is Professor Emeritus at Tohoku University. He has a PhD in Sociology and specializes in urban, regional and Asian sociology. In addition to theoretical research based on American urban sociology and new urban sociology, he has conducted empirical research on post-war Japanese communities with a special focus on neighborhood associations.