Saskia Sassen
Dutch-American sociologist who coined the term 'global city'.
Saskia Sassen, a Dutch-American sociologist born on January 5, 1945 (though some sources cite 1947), is best known for her work on globalization and the movement of people across borders. She holds professorships in sociology at Columbia University in New York City and at the London School of Economics. The concept of the "global city" was introduced and popularized by Sassen in her 1991 book *The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo*.
Her academic path began in 1966 with a year each studying philosophy and political science at the Université de Poitiers in France, the Università degli Studi di Roma in Italy, and the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. From 1969, she studied sociology and economics at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, earning an M.A. in 1971 and a Ph.D. in 1974 under Fabio Dasilva. She also received a master’s in philosophy from the University of Poitiers in 1974.
After a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard’s Center for International Affairs, Sassen took various academic roles in the U.S. and abroad, including serving as the Ralph Lewis Professor of Sociology at the University of Chicago. She is currently the Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia and a Centennial Visiting Professor of Political Economy at the London School of Economics. During the 1980s and 1990s, she became a prolific writer in urban sociology, examining how globalization reshapes economies, how labor and capital flows affect city life, and how communication technology influences governance. She noted that nation-states often lose control over these processes and highlighted the rise of transnationalism, including migration. Her 1991 book on the global city made her a frequently cited authority on globalization, with an updated edition released in 2001. In the early 2000s, she focused on immigration and globalization through her "denationalization" and "transnationalism" projects. Her books have been translated into 21 languages.
Sassen was born in The Hague, Netherlands, in 1945. The following year, her parents—Willem Sassen, a Dutch Nazi collaborator and Waffen-SS journalist, and Miep van der Voort—moved the family to Buenos Aires, Argentina. She spent part of her youth in Italy and has said she was "brought up in five languages." She is married to sociologist Richard Sennett.
Her honors include an honorary degree in urbanism from Delft Univers
- born
- January 5, 1945 (though some sources cite 1947)
Lore & Background
Saskia Sassen was born in The Hague, Netherlands in 1945. In 1946, her parents—Willem Sassen, a Dutch collaborator, Nazi journalist and member of the Waffen-SS, and Miep van der Voort—moved to Argentina, where the family lived in Buenos Aires. She spent part of her youth in Italy and says she was 'brought up in five languages.' From 1966, she studied philosophy and political science for a year each at the Université de Poitiers, the Università degli Studi di Roma, and the University of Buenos Aires. From 1969, she studied sociology and economics at the University of Notre Dame, obtaining an M.A. in 1971 and a Ph.D. in 1974 under Fabio Dasilva. She also received a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Poitiers in 1974.
After a post-doctoral fellowship at the Center for International Affairs at Harvard University, Sassen held various academic positions, including the Ralph Le
Reader's Guide
Saskia Sassen's significance lies in her foundational work on globalization and urban sociology, particularly her identification and popularization of the 'global city' concept. Her 1991 book *The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo* established a framework for understanding how certain cities become command points in the world economy, influencing flows of capital, labor, and information. Her research during the 1980s and 1990s examined economic restructuring, the movement of labor and capital, and the impact of communication technology on governance, highlighting the declining power of nation states in the face of transnational forces. Sassen's later work focused on immigration and globalization, including her 'denationalization' and 'transnationalism' projects. Her books have been translated into 21 languages, reflecting her global influence. She has received multiple honorary degrees, including from Delft University of Technology (2004), Universidad de Murcia (2014), École normale supérieure (2014), Universitat de València (2016), and Universidad de Guadalajara (2017). In 2013, she received the Premio Princesa de Asturias in social sciences. Her legacy endures as a key thinker on the spatial and social dimensions of globalization.
Did You Know?
- Sassen coined and popularized the term 'global city' in her 1991 work *The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo*.
- She was born in The Hague, Netherlands, and her father was a Dutch collaborator, Nazi journalist, and member of the Waffen-SS.
- She holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Notre Dame (1974) and a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Poitiers (1974).
- She is married to sociologist Richard Sennett.
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