Cities and Identities - Daniel A. Bell

This book illustrates how cities possess unique normative identities, referred to as 'ethoses', and how the residents shape and perceive them.

The question of identity and which social relations constitute it has been a central topic in philosophy and social science for centuries. While the state played a key role in shaping identity during the 20th century, its influence has waned in recent years due to market pressures, international agreements, migration, and institutions like the IMF, which limit state autonomy, hence its ability to design policies that sustain and enhance particular, national identities. This collection argues that cities are emerging as new sources of identity, possessing their own "ethoses"—distinctive normative characters. The contributors explore this idea through six cities: London, Qingdao, Tokyo, Mumbai, Istanbul, and Amsterdam. Their analysis draws on extensive document research, personal experiences, urban exploration, and interviews with residents from diverse social, ethnic, and gender backgrounds.

This book was originally published as a special issue of Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy.