The Hybrid City: Newcomers and Unexpected Urban Inclusions

In today’s world of geopolitical change and social upheaval, cities are increasingly sites of tension and dissonance. These challenges threaten urban inclusivity and raise urgent questions about how we conceptualise inclusion, particularly in an age where digitalisation reshapes how newcomers experience city life. The paradigm of the ‘hybrid city’—where physical and digital, global and local, past and present intertwine becomes essential for understanding these transformations. How do sociologists respond to these shifts? What new paradigms and methods are required to address the complexities of urban inclusion today? My research introduces the concept of ‘hybrid inclusion,’ developed from multi-situated ethnographies in Geneva and Hamamatsu, two cities that embody this hybrid paradigm. Despite distinct socio-historical contexts, both cities face similar pressures from global and local crises while maintaining ideals of diversity and internationalism. At the macro level, inclusion policies reflect these ideals, yet at the meso and micro levels, a disconnect emerges. Inclusion manifests in unexpected, hybrid forms that bridge physical and digital spaces, shaped by both past and present influences. This presentation will explore how digitalisation, as a complex catalyst, has reshaped inclusion in these cities, revealing ambivalent practices that diverge from official narratives. By examining the interplay between global crises, local responses, and online-offline dynamics, I aim to contribute to the sociological discourse on how hybrid cities can navigate profound social transformations and foster more inclusive urban environments that respond critically to emerging inequalities.