Theoretical and Methodological Questions of Recent Research on Large Global Cities: Notes for Reflection

This paper discusses the main theoretical & methodological assumptions of research concerned with the impact of globalization & economic restructuring on social & spatial inequalities in the Greater Porto Alegre region. This research is part of a larger institutional network that includes several Brazilian metropolitan areas. In order to understand the current changes, three aspects were examined: (1) the hypothesis of social polarization contained in the notion of "global city"; (2) the concepts of social space & of social division of space -- viewed as useful tools to explain the social inequalities that grow within the great cities -- drawing on a Marxist social class view; & (3) the problems involved in the setting up of social-occupational categories that are the empirical base of this investigation as well as the difficulties related to the use of the data. 22 References. Adapted from the source document.