Saskia Sassen is a leading sociologist renowned for her work on globalisation, urbanisation, migration and the evolving nature of state sovereignty. She is best known for introducing the concept of the Global City — cities such as New York, London and Tokyo that wield disproportionate influence over the world economy as command centres of finance, business services and innovation, a concept that has profoundly shaped urban studies and international political economy.
This article explains Sassen’s core ideas — the Global City and its key features, the paradox of economic decentralisation alongside organisational centralisation, her concept of denationalisation, and her account of migration as a structural outcome of global capitalism rather than a purely individual choice. It also covers her theory of expulsions from her 2014 book of the same name, her analysis of territory, authority and rights, common criticisms of her framework, and its relevance to Indian cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi. Useful for students of sociology, political theory, urban studies and UPSC or state civil services aspirants.
Author: Darshita Neeraj
Senior Researcher,
Mudita Learning and Knowledge Private Limited
Email: info@muditabooks.com
Date of post: 27.08.2026
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