Putting People’s Spaces into Place

This chapter discusses the spatial dimension of transnational migration and urbanism. It addresses the gap in research concerning spatiality within urban studies, focusing on the interplay between cities, migration and space. The chapter reviews theoretical developments in geography, highlighting varying approaches to spatial issues. It emphasizes the tangible nature of transnational spaces, shaped by social practices and interactions. The chapter introduces a novel methodological approach, incorporating mental maps and mixed methods, to empirically capture the socio-spatial diversification in global cities. The chapter aims to bridge the divide between structural and agency perspectives in the study of transnational spaces, offering a comprehensive understanding of the socio-spatial dynamics in global cities. It thus lays the ground for the theoretical contribution of the monograph and introduces into the abductive research concept.